A solution of methyl 6-(2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)-5-hydroxynicotinate (700 mg), potassium carbonate (1.10 g) and 4-(bromomethyl)-2,2-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (730 mg) in DMF (5.0 mL) was stirred at 80° C. for 4 hr. Water was added to the reaction mixture, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate and the extract was dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give the title compound (980 mg) as a pale-yellow oil. This compound was used for the next step without further purification.
