To a solution of ethyl 3-(chloromethyl)-2-methyl-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-cyclopropane carboxylate (Preparation 5, 14.4 g, 48.6 mmol), in N,N-dimethylformamide (120 Ml) was added sodium hydrogen carbonate (12 g, 143 mmol) and 3-phenylpropylamine (38.8 g, 41 ml, 290 mmol). The mixture was heated to 150° C. for 7 h, then cooled to room temperature and poured onto water (1000 ml). The mixture was extracted with diethyl ether (2×500 ml), and the combined extracts were washed with water (2×250 ml), dried (Na2SO4), filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica (1000 g) column chromatography eluting with dichloromethane then dichloromethane/ethyl acetate 4:1. Product-containing fractions were combined and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a very pale yellow oil (6.2 g, 36%).
