Sodium hydride (2.74 g, 1.2 eq.) was added portionwise to a solution of p-methoxybenzyl alcohol (8.55 mL, 1.2 eq.) and 15-crown-5 (13.6 mL, 1.2 eq.) in 35 mL of DMF. The mixture was allowed to stir at room temperature for 30 min, and then added to a solution of 2,4,8-trichloro-7-methoxyquinoline (15 g, 1 eq.) in DMF (75 mL) via canula. After 18 hrs of stirring at room temperature, the mixture was poured on 500 mL of water and NH4Cl aqueous. Ethyl acetate (200 mL) was added and the precipitate was filtered. The filtrate was purified by chromatography on silica gel to yield compound AI in 56% yield. 1H NMR (CDCl3, 400 MHz) δ 3.85 (s, 3H), 4.05 (s, 3H), 5.19 (s, 2H), 6.77 (s, 1H), 6.97 (d, J=8.64 Hz, 2H), 7.23 (d, J=9.25 Hz, 1H), 7.41 (d, J=8.64 Hz, 2H), 8.08 (d, J=9.25 Hz, 1H); MS (ESI, EI+): m/z=386.1 (MNa+).
