To a solution of 3-hydroxymethylbenzaldehyde (step 1) (3 g) in methylene chloride (15 mL) and triethylamine (4.1 mL) was slowly added t-butylchlorodiphenyl silane (8 mL). Finally, a few mgs of 4-pyrrolidinopyridine was added as a catalyst. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight at room temperature (R.T.). The solution was quenched with 25% ammonium acetate and extracted with ethyl acetate, which was washed with brine (2×), dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and evaporated to dryness. Purification by flash chromatography, using 4% ethyl acetate in hexane afforded the title compound.
