A cooled (−78° C.) yellow solution of 2-iodo-1,3-dimethoxybenzene (6.337 g; 24.00 mmol) in anh. THF (130 ml), under nitrogen, was treated dropwise with a solution of 1.6 M n-BuLi in hexanes (15.0 ml; 24.00 mmol). The resulting yellow solution was further stirred at −78° C. for 15 min. A yellow solution of ethyl 6-((tert-butylsulfinyl)imino)hexanoate (5.018 g; 19.20 mmol) in anh. THF (12 ml) was then added dropwise to the cooled reaction mixture, and stirring at −78° C. was continued for 50 min. The resulting orange reaction mixture was treated successively with aq. sat. NH4Cl (65 ml), Et2O (200 ml) and water (60 ml). The separated yellow organic layer was then washed with brine (60 ml), dried over anh. MgSO4, filtered, and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure. Purification by FC (DCM/MeOH=25/1) afforded ethyl 6-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-6-(1,1-dimethylethylsulfinamido)hexanoate as a yellow oil. LC-MS (conditions B): tR=0.91 min.; [M+H]+: 400.05 g/mol.
