Add sodium triacetoxyborohydride (0.2600 g, 1.227 mmol) to a stirred solution of 6-[4-(2-benzylamino-ethyl)-phenoxy]-nicotinamide (0.3058 g, 0.8802 mmol), benzaldehyde (0.092 mL, 0.905 mmol), glacial acetic acid (0.052 mL, 0.908 mmol) and 1,2-dichloroethane (8 mL). Stir for 18 h at room temperature under nitrogen. Pour the reaction into 1N sodium hydroxide (50 mL) and extract with diethyl ether (3× 50 mL). Wash the diethyl ether extracts with brine, dry over magnesium sulfate, filter, and concentrate on a rotary evaporator to give the crude product. The crude product is purified by flash chromatography on silica gel eluting with 75% ethyl acetate/hexanes to yield 0.2501 g (65%) of 6-[4-(2-dibenzylamino-ethyl)-phenoxy]-nicotinamide: HPLC (30/70 to 90/10 ACN/(0.1% TFA in water) Zorbax SB-Phenyl Column 4.6 mm×5 cm×5 micron: Retention time: 8.14 minutes, Purity: 99.7%; mass spectrum (ion spray): m/z=438.0 (M+1).
