A solution of about 10.85 g of N-[1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-[(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy]ethyl]acetamide in about 240 ml of dry dimethylformamide was added dropwise to a suspension of about 3.12 g of about 50% sodium hydride (pre-washed with anhydrous ether). After stirring about one hour a solution of about 22.8 g of octadecyl iodide in about 150 ml of tetrahydrofuran was added, stirring was continued for about 24 hours, then the mixture was diluted with ether and washed with a minimum amount of brine. The organic layer was dried, the solvents evaporated and the crude material purified by chromatography on silica gel, eluting with ethyl acetate:hexane:ethanol (about 1:1:0.2), giving about 8 g of the desired title compound, mp 52°-55° C.
