To a solution of 3,5-bis(((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-N-(2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)aniline (6.7 g, 12.69 mmol) in anhydrous 1,2-dichloroethane (50 ml) was added 2-(methyldithio)isobutyraldehyde (2.74 ml, 19.04 mmol), sodium triacetoxyborohydride (2.8 g, 1 eq), zinc(II) chloride (0.865 g, 6.35 mmol) and magnesium sulfate (2.292 g, 19.04 mmol). The mixture was stirred for five hours at ambient temperature. Sodium triacetoxyborohydride (2.8 g, 1 eq) was added. The reaction continued to stir at ambient temperature for 20 hours. The mixture was filtered through celite rinsing with dichloromethane and concentrated under reduced pressure then extracted with ethyl acetate and water. The organic extracts were washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, concentrated and purified by combiflash (EtOAc/Hex) to give 3,5-bis(((tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy)methyl)-N-(2-(2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl)-N-(2-methyl-2-(methyldisulfanyl)propyl)aniline (3.5 g, 40%). 1H NMR (400 Hz, CDCl3): δ 6.73 (s, 2H), 6.59 (s, 1H), 4.56 (s, 4H), 3.65-3.51 (m, 14H), 3.30 (s, 3H), 2.38 (s, 3H), 1.28 (s, 6H), 0.84 (s, 18H), 0.00 (s, 12H). MS (m/z). found 684.2 (M+Na)+. See FIG. 46.
