To a mixture of (R)-4-((R)-1-hydroxyethyl)pyrrolidin-2-one 1.18 (350 mg, 2.73 mmol), PPh3 (720 mg, 2.73 mmol), and 6-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-4-ol 2.27 (130 mg, 0.60 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (6 mL) was added DEAD (475 mg, 2.73 mmol) and the reaction was stirred overnight. Water (10 mL) and EtOAc (20 mL) were added and the layers were separated. The organic layer was washed with brine (1×10 mL), dried (Na2SO4), filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography (CH2Cl2→10% MeOH in CH2Cl2) to afford (R)-4-((R)-1-(6-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-3H-imidazo[4,5-c]pyridin-4-yloxy)ethyl)pyrrolidin-2-one 3.01.
