n-BuLi (2.5M, 1.33 ml, 3.33 mmol) was added slowly at -78° C. to a solution of 3-methyl-thiazole (300 mg, 3.03 mmol) in 8 ml of THF under nitrogen. After stirring at -78° C. for 15 min, HMPA (1.08 g, 6.06 mmol) was added and the resulting mixture was stirred for 10 min. To the above mixture was added at -78° C. 3-[4-(2-methyl-tetrazol-5-yl)-2,6-dimethylphenoxy]-propylbromide (985 mg, 3.03 mmol) in 5 ml of THF. The mixture was allowed to warm to 20° C. and stirred for 3 h. Saturated ammonium chloride solution was added and the aqueous layer was extracted with ether (3×), and the organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica column chromatography (15 cm column, ethyl acetate/hexane, 1/8-3/1) to afford 290 mg (28%) of 3-methyl-5-[3-[4-(2-methyl-tetrazol-5-yl)-2,6-dimethylphenoxy]-propyl]thiazole.
