Reagents and conditions: (a) Sodium nitromalonaldehyde monohydrate, AcOH or water, 90 °C, 38−94%. (b) Br2, NaOH, dioxane, 0−22 °C, 69%. (c) Forty percent HNMe2/water, microwave, 160 °C, 54%. (d) H2, 10% Pd/C, EtOAc/MeOH, 22 °C, or SnCl2, EtOAc, reflux, 82−99%. (e) Benzoic acid 2a or 2b, EDCI, HOBt, DMF, 22 °C, 35−82%.