To a mixture of methyl 3-{4-[(4-{[(4-formyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-2-yl)oxy]methyl}-2-methoxyphenoxy)methyl]-5-methyl-1,3-oxazol-2-yl}benzoate (0.85 g), tetraethyl methylenediphosphonate (0.49 g) and N,N-dimethylformamide (30 mL) was added sodium hydride (60% in oil, 0.07 g) at room temperature, and the mixture was stirred at the same temperature for 15 hrs. Water was poured into the reaction mixture, and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with saturated brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The residue was subjected to silica gel column chromatography to give methyl 3-[4-({4-[({4-[(E)-2-(diethoxyphosphoryl)ethenyl]-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl}oxy)methyl]-2-methoxyphenoxy}methyl)-5-methyl-1,3-oxazol-2-yl]benzoate as colorless crystals (0.59 g, yield 57%) from a fraction eluted with ethyl acetate-hexane (4:1, v/v). Recrystallization from ethyl acetate-hexane gave colorless prism crystals. melting point: 141-142° C.
