To a solution of (R)-tert-butyl-2-(hydroxymethyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (Example 15f, 7.10 g, 33.0 mmol) and 2,6-dinitrobenzonitrile (6.37 g, 33.0 mmol) in THF (142 mL) cooled to −78° C., was added NaH (60% dispersion in oil, 1.45 g, 36.3 mmol). The reaction was allowed to warm to room temperature and stirring was continued for 18 hours. Upon completion, the reaction was cooled to 0° C. and quenched with water. The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate, and the organic extracts were combined and dried over anhydrous Na2SO4, filtered, and concentrated. The residue was recrystallized from ethyl acetate/hexanes to afford (R)-tert-butyl-2-((2-cyano-3-nitrophenoxy)methyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (10.8 g, 91%) as a yellow solid. MS 282 (MH+-boc).
