To a solution of 4′-{[4-(1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]dec-8-yl)-5-oxo-7-propyl-4,5-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-6-yl]methyl}-2′-methoxybiphenyl-2-carbonitrile (0.25 g) in tetrahydrofuran (3 mL) was added 3M hydrochloric acid (3 mL), and the mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 12 hr. The mixture was allowed to cool, and diluted with ethyl acetate, and the mixture was neutralized with 1 M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, and the organic layer was washed with water and saturated brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in ethanol (3 mL)-tetrahydrofuran (3 mL). Thereto was added sodium borohydride (0.019 g) at 0° C. After stirring for 1 hr, ethyl acetate and saturated aqueous ammonium chloride solution were added. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, and the organic layer was washed with water and saturated brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated. The residue was dissolved in methylene chloride (2 mL), rhodium acetate (dimer, 0.020 g) and then ethyl diazoacetate (0.86 mL) were added dropwise, and the mixture was stirred for 3 hr. Ethyl acetate and water were added to the reaction mixture, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water and then with saturated brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography to give the title compound as a pale-yellow amorphous solid (0.13 g, 53%).
