To a stirred solution of methyl (1S,2S)-5-oxo-2-[(4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)carbonyl]-cyclohexanecarboxylate (130.0 mg, 0.0003775 mol) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (4.0 mL, 0.049 mol) at −78° C. was added 1.00 M of phenylmagnesium bromide in tetrahydrofuran (0.755 mL). The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 1 h, then slowly warmed to −35° C. over 3 h. The reaction was quenched with saturated aqueous NH4Cl (20 mL), extracted with EtOAc (2×). The combined organic layers were washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by Combiflash with 30-80% EtOAc/Hex to give the product as a colorless solid. (123 mg, 62% in yield). MS (ESI): (M+H)+=423.1.
