To a mixture of 4-hydroxy-3-propylbenzonitrile (Example 33, 1.33 g, 8.28 mmol) and methyl [5-(3-bromopropoxy)-1H-indol-1-yl]acetate (Example 47, 2.70 g, 8.28 mmol) in DMF (50 mL, containing 1% water), was added cesium carbonate (5.39 g, 16.55 mmol). The mixture was stirred at rt for 24 h and then the solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was suspended in ethyl acetate and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and purified via silica gel column chromatography (0-10% EtOAc in hexanes) to give 787 mg (23%) of the product as a solid. This was used in later steps with no further purification.
