Methanol → 3-(2-Methoxyethoxy)azetidine hydrochloride

1-Chloroethyl chloroformate (102 μL, 0.9 mmol) was added to a solution of 1-benzhydryl-3-(2-methoxyethoxy)-azetidine (215 mg, 0.7 mmol) in 1,2-dichloroethane (3 mL) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was then heated up to 70° C. and stirred for 2.5 hours. After cooling down to room temperature, methanol (3 mL) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred overnight at 70° C. The mixture was then concentrated to dryness and the residue was triturated in pentane (2×15 mL) to give a yellow oil (109 mg, 90%) which was used in the next step without further purification.