Lithium hydroxide (13.3 mg, 0.554 mmol) in water (1 ml) was added into methyl 2-[(4-{3-[(2,4-difluorobenzyl)(heptyl)amino]-3-oxopropyl}phenoxy)methyl]benzoate (149 mg, 0.277 mmol) dissolved in THF (2 ml). The mixture was then placed in microwave oven (Smith Synthesizer) at 150° C. for 7 minutes and then evaporated to remove THF. The residue was acidified with 1% hydrochloric acid, pH˜4, and extracted with ethyl acetate (×2). The organic extracts were combined and washed with brine and dried with magnesium sulphate and then evaporated. Chromatography of the residue on a column (ISOLUTE® SI, 2 g/6 ml) using DCM, then MeOH/DCM (1:99) as eluant gave 121 mg desired product, yield 83%.
