Methanol → (R)-[1-(3-ethoxy-4-methoxy-phenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyl]-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester

To a solution of (1R)-[1-(3-ethoxy-4-methoxy-phenyl)-3-oxo-butyl]-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (1 g, 3 mmol) in THF (10 mL) was added a solution of methyl lithium (4 mL, 3M, 12 mmol) at 0° C. To the mixture was added methanol (5 mL). The residue was extracted with ethyl acetate (50 mL) and NH4Cl (sat, 25 mL). The organic layer washed with brine (100 mL) and dried over MgSO4. The solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was purified with preparative HPLC to give (R)-[1-(3-ethoxy-4-methoxy-phenyl)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyl]-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester (150 mg, 14% yield).