To a solution of phenol (969 mg) in N,N-dimethylformamide (27 ml) was added potassium carbonate powder (1.92 g) and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 5 min. 1-((tert-Butyldiphenylsiloxy)methyl)-2-chloro-4-((methanesulfonyloxy) methyl)benzene (3.39 g) was added and the mixture was stirred at 100° C. for 3 hr. The reaction mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature. Water was added and the mixture was extracted twice with hexane. The organic layers were combined, washed successively with water and saturated brine, and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was purified by column chromatography (silica gel, hexane/ethyl acetate=50/1) to give 1-((tert-butyldiphenylsiloxy)-methyl)-2-chloro-4-(phenoxymethyl)benzene (2.65 g) as a colorless oil.
