To a 500 mL three-necked, round-bottomed flask equipped with an overhead stirrer, nitrogen inlet line, thermocouple, and reflux condenser is added 
celecoxib (7.00 g, 18.4 mmol, 1 equiv), potassium carbonate powder (5.07 g, 36.7 mmol, 2.00 equiv), 
2-mesityl-2,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrrolo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-4-ium chloride (1) (97 mg, 0.37 mmol, 2.0 mol %), 
and anhydrous ethanol (70 mL).

The reaction mixture is <stirred> and the vessel is <degassed> with three vacuum/nitrogen purge cycles.
Benzaldehyde is <added> via <syringe> (2.25 mL, 2.33 g, 22.0 mmol, 1.20 equiv) in <one portion>, 
and the resulting reaction mixture is <heated> at an <internal temperature> of 70 °C for 16 h, during which time the reaction mixture turns <yellow>.

The progress of the reaction is monitored for the disappearance of <celecoxib> (Note 6). 
The reaction mixture is cooled to <room temperature> (22-24 °C internal temperature) and <diluted> with <70 mL> of <anhydrous DMF>, which is added via <syringe>. 
Benzyl bromide (3.27 mL, 4.70 g, 27.5 mmol, 1.50 equiv) is then added in one portion via <syringe>, after which a <mild exotherm> of approximately 1 °C occurs over the first 5 min. 
The resulting reaction mixture is <stirred> at <ambient temperature> (20-24 °C) for a total of <3 h>, during which time product formation is monitored. 
The reflux condenser is <replaced> with a 500-mL addition funnel filled with 350 mL of <water>. 
The water is <added> via the <addition funnel> over approximately <30 min>, during which time the product precipitates as a <pale-yellow> solid.

The slurry is <stirred> at <room temperature> for 1 h, the product is <isolated> via <filtration>, 
and the solid is <washed> with <water> (2 x 50 mL), followed by <heptane> (2 x 50 mL). 
The solid is <dried> under <vacuum> at 300 mmHg with a <nitrogen sparge> for <18 h> with occasional agitation to afford compound 2 (7.23 g, 86%, 99% purity) as a <white> solid.