To a solution of (3-{[methanesulfonyl-(4-methyl-benzyl)-amino]-methyl}-phenyl)-acetic acid ethyl ester (101.4 mg, 0.27 mmol) in MeOH (3 mL) was added aqueous NaOH (2N, 0.4 mL). The reaction was stirred at room temperature for 1 h and was diluted with a 1:1 mixture of 1N HCl and water. The product was extracted into CH2Cl2 (3×) and the organic solution was dried over MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated to provide the title compound (87 mg). 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.13–7.34 (m, 8H), 4.28 (d, 4H), 3.65 (s, 2H), 2.75 (s, 3H), 2.33 (s, 2H); MS 346 (M−1).
