To a cooled (0° C.) solution of 5-fluoro-2-(1H-indazol-5-yloxy)-benzonitrile (0.100 g, 0.395 mmol) and 2-bromo-1,1-dimethoxyethane (0.114 g, 0.671 mmol) in DMF (4 mL) was added NaH (0.024 g of 60%, 0.59 mmol). The reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 1 hour. Tetrabutyl ammonium iodide (0.029 g, 0.079 mmol) was added to the mixture and it was heated to 60° C. for 3 hours. The mixture was cooled to room temperature, diluted with water (4 mL), and extracted with ether (3×30 mL). The combined extracts were washed with water (2×5 mL) and brine, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was chromatographed eluting with ethyl acetate/hexanes (1:2) to afford 0.066 g of product (49% yield).
