To a stirred solution of tert-butyl 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylcarbamate (22.44 g, 88.59 mmol) in acetonitrile (250 mL) was added potassium carbonate (30.61 g, 221.5 mmol) and 5-(chloromethyl)-2-methoxypyridine hydrochloride (18.33 g, 94.46 mmol). The resulting mixture was heated to reflux and stirred. After 23 h, the light green suspension was allowed to cool to room temperature and was diluted with water (600 mL), resulting in the formation of a precipitate. The solids were isolated by filtration and washed with water. The moist solids were dissolved in dichloromethane (300 mL), and a small amount of water separated and was removed. The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated to provide 31.92 g (96%) of tert-butyl 3-methoxy-4-((6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)methoxy)benzylcarbamate as an off-white solid.
