The condensation of 4-bromophenyl-3-pyridyl ketone (I) with ethyl bromoacetate (II) by means of Zn in refluxing benzene gives ethyl 3-hydroxy-3-(3-pyridyl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)propionate (III), which is reduced with LiAlH4 in refluxing ethyl ether yielding 1-(3-pyridyl)-1-(4-bromophenyl)propane-1,3-diol (IV). Finally this compound is treated first with PBr3 and HBr in refluxing acetone, and then with methylamine (V) at 110 C in a pressure vessel
The condensation of 4-bromophenyl-3-pyridyl ketone (I) with ethyl bromoacetate (II) by means of Zn in refluxing benzene gives ethyl 3-hydroxy-3-(3-pyridyl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)propionate (III), which is converted into the corresponding methylamide (VI) by treatment with methylamine (V) in ethanol. This compound is reduced with NaBH4 in THF yielding 3-(3-pyridyl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)-3-hydroxy-N-methylpropylamine (VII), which is finally dehydrated by treatment with 50% H2SO4 at 110 C