To a solution of 2-methoxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (0.15 g) in anh CH2Cl2 (15 mL) at 0° C. was added CDI (0.13 g). The resulting solution was allowed to warm to room temp. over 1 h, was stirred at room temp. for 16 h, then was treated with 4-(2-(N-methylcarbamoyl)-4-pyridyloxy)aniline (0.18 g). The resulting yellow solution was stirred at room temp. for 72 h, then was treated with H2O (125 mL). The resulting aqueous mixture was extracted with EtOAc (2×150 mL). The combined organics were washed with a saturated NaCl solution (100 mL), dried (MgSO4) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was triturated (90% EtOAc/10% hexane). The resulting white solids were collected by filtration and washed with EtOAc. The filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residual oil purified by column chromatography (gradient from 33% EtOAc/67% hexane to 50% EtOAc/50% hexane to 100% EtOAc) to give N-(2-methoxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-N′-(4-(2-(N-methylcarbamoyl)-4-pyridyloxy)phenyl)urea as a light tan solid (0.098 g, 30%): TLC (100% EtOAc) Rf 0.62; 1H NMR (DMSO-d6) δ 2.76 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 3H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 7.1-7.6 and 8.4-8.6 (m, 11H), 8.75 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 9.55 (s, 1H); FAB-MS m/z 461 ((M+H)+).
