To a solution of 1-(o-tolyloxy)-2-iodobenzene (40 g, 0.13 mol) in anhydrous THF (500 mL) cooled to −78° C. was added dropwise 1.6 M n-BuLi in hexanes (52 mL, 0.13 mol). After stirring for 1 h at −78° C., a solution of (R)-tert-butyl 3-(N-methoxy-N-methylcarbamoyl)-piperidine-1-carboxylate (35 g, 0.13 mol) in anhydrous THF (500 mL) was added dropwise. The mixture was allowed to warm to rt and stirred overnight. Sat'd aq NH4Cl (500 mL) was added and the mixture was extracted with EtOAc (3×150 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na2SO4. Solvent removal and flash column chromatography afforded (2-(o-tolyloxy)phenyl)((R)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)piperidin-3-yl)methanone (23 g, 45%).
