A mixture of the Wittig reagent (23, X═O) or the phosphonate (0.3 mmol), aldehyde (24) (0.33 mmol), and K2CO3 (0.9 mmol) in a mixture of THF (3 ml) and DMF (1 ml) was heated at 70-75° C. under TLC and HPLC monitoring. After completion of the reaction, THF was evaporated and the reaction mixture was quenched with water and then extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with water and brine, dried over Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated. After purification, the title compound (26) was recovered as white solid with 72% yield, mp 82-83° C.
