tert-Butyllithium (1.32 mL of a 1.7M solution in pentane, 2.25 mmol) was added to a solution of the vinyl iodide 6 (460 mg, 1.25 mmol) in THF (2.2 mL) at −78° C. After 0.5 h paraformaldehyde (50 mg, 1.67 mmol) was added. The reaction was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 16 h. The reaction was quenched with saturated aqueous NH4Cl and extracted with EtOAc. The organic portion was dried (MgSO4), filtered and concentrated in vacuo. FCC (silica gel, 4:1 hex/EtOAc) yielded 103 mg (33%) of the alcohol 7 as a clear, colorless oil.
