A solution of 1-[4-[2-(1-piperidinyl)ethoxy]phenoxy]-2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-6-methoxynaphthal hydrochloride (0.500 g, 0.96 mmol) in 20 mL of anhydrous methylene chloride under N2 atmosphere was chilled in an acetonitrile-dry ice bath to −20° C. Boron tribromide (1.44 mmol) was added dropwise over 3 minutes by syringe as a 1 M solution (1.44 mL).also in methylene chloride. The resulting mixture was allowed to warm to 0° C. and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction was then poured into a stirring solution of cold saturated sodium bicarbonate (100 mL) and the crude product was extracted with ethyl acetate (4×25 mL). The organic extracts were combined, dried (magnesium sulfate), and concentrated to a oily foam. The crude free base was purified by radial chromatography using 5/95 methanol/methylene chloride. The appropriate fractions were combined and concentrated in vacuo to provide 220 mg (49%) of 1-[4-[2-(1-piperidinyl)ethoxy]-phenoxy]-2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxynaphthalene as a white crystalline solid, mp 170-171° C.
