To a solution of methyl 4-(diphenylmethoxy)-3-isobutylbenzoate (0.45 g, 1.20 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (20 mL) was added lithium aluminum hydride (60 mg, 1.58 mmol) by small portions under ice-cooling. The mixture was stirred under ice-cooling for 2 hr, sodium sulfate decahydrate (1.2 g, 2.30 mmol) was added to the reaction solution by small portions, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hr. The insoluble material was filtered off, and the filtrate was concentrated to give the title compound (420 mg, yield 100%) as a colorless oil.
