A -78° C. solution of N-(benzyloxyacetyl)morpholine (1 g, 8.5 mmol) in THF (25 mL) was treated with potassium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (17 mL of a 0.5M solution). After stirring for 10 min at -78° C., a solution of methyl 2-bromo-3-phenylpropionate (8.5 mmol) in THF (5 mL) was added dropwise. Stirring at -78° C. for 30 min was followed by warming to 0° C. The reaction was then distributed between ether and brine solution. The organic layer was washed with brine and dried over MgSO4. Evaporation and flash chromatography on silica gel gave the desired product in 63% yield.
