A solution of 2-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethylbromide (12.2 g) in dry tetrahydrofuran (20 ml) was added dropwise to a suspension of magnesium (1.46 g) in dry tetrahydrofuran (20 ml), under an atmosphere of nitrogen, at a rate sufficient to maintain a state of reflux. After 1 hour the cooled solution was added to a stirred solution of 4,5-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-2-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl) oxazole (7.95 g) in dry tetrahydrofuran (50 ml) under an atmosphere of nitrogen. The mixture was stirred at 20° for 16 hours. Water (400 ml) was added and the aqueous phase thoroughly extracted with ethyl acetate (2×250 ml). The organic phase was dried over magnesium sulphate, filtered and the solvent removed in vacuo to yield a yellow oil which was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel, using 10% ethyl acetate/90% petroleum ether as eluent, and by Kugelruhr distillation (air bath temperature 200°/1 mm Hg) 9.7 g of the title compound were obtained ms m/e 369.
