Dry ether (10 mL) was added to anhydrous aluminum chloride (693 mg) at 0° C. under nitrogen and stirred until dissolution was complete. Lithium aluminum hydride (197 mg) was added in one portion and the solution heated to reflux. 1-Benzyloxy-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-ethyl-5-[(3-cyanopropyl)oxy]-benzene (1.05 g) dissolved in dry ether (5 mL) was added dropwise at reflux. The heat was removed and the mixture stirred at ambient temperature for 4.5 hours. The reaction was quenched by addition of water, followed by 6N sulfuric acid until a clear solution was obtained. This was extracted with ether. The aqueous solution was cooled and treated with 50% sodium hydroxide. The basic mixture was extracted with ether. The organic layers were dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure to afford 500 mg of 1-Benzyloxy-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-ethyl-5-[(4-aminobutyl)oxy]-benzene as an oil, which was not further purified but carried forward. Mass Spec (EI), m/e=394.3 (M+H).
