A solution of 1-ethoxymethyl-1,2,4-triazole (0.79 g, 6.2 mmol-see Preparation 27) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) (8 ml) was stirred under a nitrogen atmosphere at -70° C. before treatment with a solution of n-butyllithium in hexane (2.5M, 2.5 ml, 6.2 mmol) The mixture was stirred for 0.25 hours and treated with a solution of anhydrous zinc chloride (1.2 g, 9.3 mmol) in THF (8 ml), then was allowed to warm to room temperature. To this mixture was added tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) (0.06 g, 0.06 mmol) and 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-(4-iodophenyl)-1-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-3-buten-2-ol (0.7 g, 1.5 mmol-see Preparation 20) and the mixture was heated under reflux for 4 hours. After being cooled, a suspension of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (10 g, 27 mmol) was added, the mixture was adjusted to pH8 with saturated sodium carbonate solution and extracted with dichloromethane (2×100 ml). The combined extracts were dried (MgSO4) and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed on silica by gradient elution with dichloromethanelmethanol (98:2, 97:3, 95:5). Fractions containing the desired product were combined, evaporated under reduced pressure and the residue was triturated with ether to afford the title compound (0.55 g, 78%) as a colourless solid, m.p. 160-162° C.
