A suspension of methyl 4-(allylamino)-3-fluoro-2-(2-fluoro-4-iodophenylamino)-5-nitrobenzoate and ammonium chloride (4.42 g, 79 mmoles) in a mixture of MeOH (20 ml) and dioxane (20 ml) is heated until it became a clear solution. Iron powder (4.42 g, 79 mmoles) is added and the resulting mixture is heated under reflux overnight. Water is added and the reaction mixture is filtered through celite. The solvent is removed under reduced pressure and the crude material is purified by flash chromatography to give the title compound.
