To a stirred suspension of Compound B of Example 12 (220 mg, 1.0 mmol) in MeOH in the presence of solid K2CO3 at room temperature under argon was added methyl bromophenylacetate (0.18 mL, 1.1 mmol). The mixture was stirred for 18 h, the solvent was removed, and the residue was purified by flash column chromatography (3:2, hexanes and ethyl acetate) to give 1,2,3,5-tetrahydro-a,7-diphenyl-4H-1,4-benzodiazepine-4-acetic acid, methyl ester as an oil (220 mg, 63%). This material was reacted as described for Compound D of Example 1 to afford Example 222 as a yellow solid.
