(2R)-2-{[(1R)-1-(2-Bromo-3-methylphenyl)ethoxy]methyl}oxirane (1505 mg, 5.57 mmol), which had been obtained in Example 3 (3b), ethyl prop-2-enoate (910 μL, 8.36 mmol), palladium acetate (II) (126 mg, 0.56 mmol), tris(2-methylphenyl)phosphine (170 mg, 0.56 mmol), and potassium carbonate (1537 mg, 11.1 mmol) were suspended in a mixed solvent (27.5 mL) of propionitrile-water (2:1), and stirred with heating under reflux for 5 hours. The reaction solution was cooled to room temperature, filtered by using Millicup-LH, and washed with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water and saturated brine, and then dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. After that, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (n-hexane/ethyl acetate=4/1) to give the title compound as a pale yellow oily substance (1025 mg, yield 63%).
