To a solution of (1R,2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-tris(benzyloxy)-2-(benzyloxymethyl)-6-(4-chloro-3-(4-ethylbenzyl)phenyl)cyclohexanol (60 g, purity of 98%, 0.077 mol, 1 eq) in tetrahydrofuran:methanol (v/v=2:1) (600 mL) was added 1,2-dichlorobenzene (21.5 g, 16.54 mL, 0.82 mol, 2 eq), palladium on carbon (10%, 4.8 g) and was stirred for 4 h under an atmospheric pressure of hydrogen at room temperature (about 25° C.). The mixture was filtered and the filtrate was evaporated to dryness to give a yellow oil (80% pure).
