The PPA condensation of 2-trifluoromethylaniline (I) with ethyl 4,4,4-trifluoroacetoacetate (II) yields 2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolone (III), which is converted into 2,8-bistrifluoromethyl-4-bromoquinoline (IV) with POBr3. The carboxylation of the quinoline (IV) with butyllithium and CO2 gives 2,8-bistrifluoromethylquinoline-4-carboxylic acid (V); this product is condensed with 2-pyridyllithium (A) giving 2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-quinolinyl-2-pyridyl ketone (VI). The last step is the reduction of ketone (VI) with H2 over Pt in ethanol.