To a stirred solution of 4-(2-chloromethylphenoxymethyl)-5-methyl-2-phenyloxazole (1.50 g) and methyl E-4-hydroxyimino-4-phenylbutyrate (990 mg) in N,N-dimethylformamide (40 ml) was added sodium hydride (60% in oil, 200 mg) at 0° C. After stirring for 2 hours, the reaction mixture was poured into water, neutralized with 2N hydrochloric acid, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with water, dried (MgSO4), and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel. Elution with ethyl acetate-hexane (1:4, v/v) gave methyl E-4-[2-(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-oxazolylmethoxy)benzyloxyimino]-4-phenylbutyrate (1.65 g, yield 71%) as a colorless oil.
