80 ml of an aqueous solution of NaOH (30% wt./vol.) and 10.6 g (0.033 moles) of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) were added to a suspension of 3-(2-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-3-phenylpropanol of the formula (VIII) (80 g, 0.330 moles) in toluene (320 ml). The internal temperature was adjusted to 50° C., 45.5 ml (0.396 moles) of benzyl chloride were added dropwise in approx. 1 h and the course of the reaction was monitored by means of TLC (eluent: cyclohexane/acetone: 70/30) until the substrate had completely disappeared. After 7 h, the reaction mixture was cooled to ambient temperature and the aqueous phase was removed. The organic phase was washed with water (3×100 ml), was then evaporated under a vacuum to remove the solvent and to obtain 104 g of 3-(2-benzyloxy-5-methylphenyl)-3-phenylpropanol (IV) as a yellow-brown oil (yield 96%).
