2-(2-Hydroxyethoxy)-5-nitropyridine (obtained as described in Annalen der Chemie., 1936, 521, 286) (114 g) was added portionwise to an ice-cooled, stirred suspension of sodium hydride (60% dispersion in mineral oil; 24.8 g) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) (600 ml), at such a rate that the temperature did not exceed 10° C. The solution was stirred at 0° C. for 10 minutes, and then tert-butylchlorodiphenylsilane (171 g) was added dropwise at such a rate that the temperature did not exceed 10° C. The solution was stirred for 72 hours and then added to water (2 l). The mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate (2 ×1 l), and the extracts were washed with water (1 l) and saturated sodium chloride solution (500 ml), and then dried (MgSO4). Volatile material was removed by evaporation, and the residue was purified by flash chromatography, eluting with hexane to give 2-[2-(t-butyldiphenylsilyl)oxyethoxy]-5-nitropyridine (B) (106 g), as an oil which solidified on standing, m.p. 63°-64° C. (from hexane); NMR (d6 -DMSO): 1.0(s,9H), 4.0(t,2H), 4.55(t,2H), 7.0(d,1H), 7.3-7.5(m,6H), 7.55-7.75(m,4H), 8.45(dd,1H), 9.0(d,1H).
