2,4-Difluoroacetophenone (0.40 g, 2.54 mmols), 4-{3-[(triisopropylsilyl)thio]phenyl}-tetra-hydro-2H-pyran-4-carboxamide (1.0 g, 2.54 mmols), tetrabutylammonium fluoride (0.66 g, 2.54 mmols), and potassium tert-butoxide (1.0 M in THF, 2.54 ml, 2.54 mmols) were added to anhydrous toluene (10 ml). The mixture was warmed to 90 degrees Celcius and stirred for 4 hours. After cooling to room temperature, ethyl acetate was added (100 ml) along with 1.0 N HCl (6 ml). The mixture was then stirred for 30 minutes and a beige precipate was collected by suction filtration. The crude product was purified further on silica gel eluting with a 70:30 mixture of methylene chloride and acetone. The appropriate fractions were concentrated to a light brown solid, (0.61 g, 64%).
