Into 100 ml of methanol and 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran were dissolved 15 g of the (-)-2-{4-(1-acetoxyethyl)phenyl}-5-decyloxypyrimidine obtained in Preparation Example [starting material compound (VI)] 70, and then 50 ml of 20% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution were added thereto, to subject to reaction at 40° to 45° C. for 4 hours. After completion of the reaction, 4N hydrochloric acid was added to the reaction mixture to adjust it to pH 7 to 8, and then 200 ml of toluene were added to effect extraction and separation. After the organic phase was washed with water, the solvent was distilled off under reduced pressure to obtain 13.2 g (yield: 98.5%) of (-)-2-{4-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenyl}-5-decyloxypyrimidine.
