A mixture 100 mg (0.3 mmol) of 3-(4-benzyloxy-phenyl)-3-oxo-propionic acid ethyl ester potassium salt, 86 mg (0.45 mmol) of 2-cyclohexylethyl bromide, and 17 mg (0.1 mmol) of potassium iodide (KI) in 1 mL of dimethylformamide (DMF) in a 4 mL vial was shaken in a sand bath at 80° C. overnight. The mixture was then concentrated to give a residue which was purified via reverse-phase chromatography (Gilson) to afford (after lyophilization) 85 mg (70% yield) of 2-(4-benzyloxy-benzoyl)-4-cyclohexyl-butyric acid ethyl ester as a solid as indicated by LC-MS—calcd for C26H32O2 [M++H]+: 409.23, found: 409.2.
