3-(4-Hydroxy-phenyl)-acrylic acid hexadecyl ester (4.8 g, 12.4 mmol) was dissolved in 100 ml of NMP. To this was added 6-chlorohexanol (2.19 g, 16 mmol), anhydrous potassium carbonate (1.7 g, 12 mmol) and a catalytic amount of potassium iodide. The reaction was stirred at 90° C. for 18 hours. Water was added to the cooled solution, which was subsequently extracted with 3×100 mls of ethyl acetate. The combined organics were washed with water (2×100 mls), water/brine (100 ml, 50:50) and brine solution and then dried over magnesium sulfate. The concentrated product was purified by silica gel chromatography eluting with 25% ethyl acetate in hexane to give 2.6 g white solid.
