“…M.p. 168-170 8C; 4'-Nitro-1,1'-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (2): Titanium(IV) isopropoxide (0.7 mL, 2.3 mmol) was added to 4'-nitro-1,1'-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1, 1.393 g, 5.7 mmol) in a mixture of benzyl alcohol (11.8 mL, 114 mmol) and toluene (90 mL) and the mixture was heated to reflux at 150 8C for 10 h. [46] Then, the solution was allowed to cool to room temperature and was concentrated under reduced pressure, followed by purification on a silica column with n-hexane/ethyl acetate 4'-Amino-1,1'-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (3): A mixture of 4'-nitro-1,1'-biphenyl-4-carboxylic acid benzyl ester (2, 500 mg, 1.5 mmol) and ethanol was heated to reflux (95 8C). After about 10 min, iron powder (837 mg, 0.015 mol) and 1 m aqueous HCl solution (0.95 mL) were added.…”