A stirred solution of 11.7 grams (0.045 mole) of triphenylphosphine in 75 mL of dry tetrahydrofuran was cooled to 0° C., and 9.0 grams (0.045 mole) of diisopropyl azodicarboxylate was added dropwise. Upon completion of addition, the reaction mixture was allowed to warm to ambient temperature where it stirred for 30 minutes. Successively, 4.4 grams (0.022 mole) of 2-cyclopropyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol (prepared in Example 1, Step B) and 3.4 grams (0.045 mole) of thiolacetic acid were then added. The exothermic reaction caused the reaction mixture temperature to rise to 39° C. After cooling to ambient temperature the reaction mixture was stirred for 16 hours. The reaction mixture was then concentrated under reduced pressure to a residual oil. The oil was subjected to chromatography on silica gel using methylene chloride:heptane (1:4) as eluant. The appropriate fractions were combined and concentrated under reduced pressure, yielding 4.6 grams of 2-cyclopropyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl thiolacetate as an oil. The nmr and the ir spectra were consistent with the proposed structure.
