Reaction of 2,6-difluorobenzonitrile (I) with one equivalent of sodium methoxide gives rise to 2-fluoro-6-methoxybenzonitrile (II) which, upon further treatment with methylamine, furnishes the 2-methylamino derivative (III). Nitrile hydrolysis in (III) employing KOH in hot ethylene glycol yields the anthranilic acid (IV). This is converted into the isatoic anhydride (V) upon treatment with phosgene and NaHCO3. Reaction of (V) with sodium diethyl malonate produces the quinolinecarboxylate (VI). Hydrolysis of ester (VI) to the corresponding carboxylic acid (VII) is then performed with concentrated HCl in hot Ac2O. Acid (VII) is finally coupled with N-methyl p-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (VIII) by means of SOCl2 and Et3N to generate the target amide.

Reaction of 2,6-difluorobenzonitrile (I) with one equivalent of sodium methoxide gives rise to 2-fluoro-6-methoxybenzonitrile (II) which, upon further treatment with methylamine, furnishes the 2-methylamino derivative (III). Nitrile hydrolysis in (III) employing KOH in hot ethylene glycol yields the anthranilic acid (IV). This is converted into the isatoic anhydride (V) upon treatment with phosgene and NaHCO3. Reaction of (V) with sodium diethyl malonate produces the quinolinecarboxylate (VI). Hydrolysis of ester (VI) to the corresponding carboxylic acid (VII) is then performed with concentrated HCl in hot Ac2O. Acid (VII) is finally coupled with N-methyl p-(trifluoromethyl)aniline (VIII) by means of SOCl2 and Et3N to generate the target amide.