A 250 ml 3-necked flask is fitted with a stirrer, a dropping funnel, a nitrogen inlet and a thermometer. In the flask is placed a solution of 379.5 mg (10 mmol) of lithium aluminum hydride in 30 ml of dry diethyl ether. The solution is cooled to -65° C. under nitrogen and a solution of 3.6148 g (10 mmol) of ethyl 6-[2-(5,5,8,8-tetramethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphth-2-yl)ethynyl]-nicotinoate in 15 ml of dry ether is added dropwise at a rate such that the temperature does not exceed -60° C. The mixture is stirred at -30° C. for 1 hour and the excess hydride is then destroyed by the addition of 300 mg (3.4 mmol) of ethyl acetate. The reaction mixture is then hydrolyzed by adding 3 ml of saturated ammonium chloride solution and allowing the temperature to rise to room temperature. The mixture is then filtered and the residue washed with ether. The ether layer is then washed with saturated sodium chloride solution, dried (MgSO4) and then concentrated in vacuo. The residue is purified by chromatography followed by recrystallization to give the title compound.
