A solution of 6,6-bis-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-hex-5-enoic acid (2.64 g, 8.75 mmol) and CDI (1.42 g, 8.75 mmol) in dry THF (30 ml) was stirred for 1 hr at room temperature under nitrogen. A solution of piperazin-1-yl-(3,4,5,-trimethoxy-phenyl)-methanone (2.45 g, 8.75 mmol) in dry THF (30 ml) was added to above solution and resulting mixture stirred at room temperature overnight. The mixture is diluted with EtOAc (30 ml) and washed with water (2×30 ml) and dried over MgSO4. Evaporation of solvent followed by column chromatography using CH2Cl2:MeOH (15:1) gave the desired product in 49% yield.
