Hydrochloric Acid → 3-(2,4,5-Trifluorophenyl)propan-1-ol

3-(2,4,5-Trifluorophenyl)propionic acid (3.25 g, 16.0 mmol; from Step 1) was dissolved in THF (15 mL) and cooled to 0° C. To this solution was added Me2S.BH3 (3.2 mL, ˜32 mmol) dropwise under 30 min and the resulting mixture was then heated at 70° C. for 30 min. After cooling to 0° C., 6 M aqueous HCl (20 mL) was added dropwise. The mixture was heated at 70° C. for 1 h. After cooling to room temperature the mixture was extracted with ether (2×20 mL) and the combined organic layers were washed with brine and dried over Na2SO4. Evaporation and drying in vacuum gave the title compound as a colorless liquid (3.17 g, 97% pure by HPLC) that was used directly in the next step. *Previously reported in EP 369812.