To a solution of 1-(3-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (Step 2, 1.0 g, 4.18 mmol), phenol (0.786 g, 8.36 mmol) and PPh3 (2.41 g, 9.2 mmol) in 50 mL of CH2Cl2 at 0° C. was added DIAD (1.65 mL, 9.2 mmol) slowly via a syringe. The reaction was warmed to RT and stirred overnight. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the residue was purified by chromatography (hexanes to 50% EtOAc/hexanes) to give the title compound as a white solid. MS (ESI pos. ion) m/z: 316.2 (M+H). Calc'd Exact Mass for C18H18FNO3: 315.34.
