5.52 g (21.05 mmol) of triphenylphosphine and 3.67 g (21.05 mmol) of diethyl azodicarboxylate are stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes in 100 ml of tetrahydrofuran. 3.90 g (14.03 mmol) of 2-(3-benzyloxyphenyl)-5-hydroxypyrimidine and 2.74 g (21.05 mmol) of 1-octanol are subsequently added, and the resultant solution is stirred at room temperature for 18 hours. Evaporation to dryness and purification by chromatography (silica gel/dichloromethane) give 4.25 g of 2-(3-benzyloxyphenyl)-5-octyloxypyrimidine. ##STR29## Removal of the benzyl protecting group by hydrogenation analogously to Example 1 gives 2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-5-octyloxypyrimidine. ##STR30## 2-(3-Hydroxyphenyl)-5-octyloxypyrimidine is reacted with methanol analogously to Example 1 to give 2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-5-octyloxypyrimidine. ##STR31## The compound has the phase sequence: X43 I
