N-Benzyl-N-hexyl-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)acetamide (84 mg, 0.236 mmol), 2-bromomethylbenzoic acid methyl ester (57 mg, 0.248 mmol) and potassium carbonate anhydrous (49 mg, 0.355 mmol) were mixed in acetonitrile (5 ml). The mixture was heated to reflux overnight and then evaporated to dry. Ethyl acetate and water were added and the two phases were separated. The organic phase was washed with brine and dried (magnesium sulphate) and evaporated. Chromatography of the residue on a column (ISOLUTE® SI, 2 g/6 ml) using DCM, MeOH/DCM (0.5:99.5) as eluant gave 102 mg the desired product yield 86%.
