4-(4-Methylbenzyl)-piperidin-4-ol → (RS)-1-(6-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-benzofuran-2-ylmethyl)-4-(4-methyl-benzyl)-piperidin-4-ol

(RS)-toluene-4-sulfonic acid 6-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-benzofuran-2-ylmethyl ester (110 mg, 0.33 mmol) and 4-(4-methyl-benzyl)-piperidin-4-ol (148 mg, 0.72 mmol) were dissolved in DMF (3 ml) and heated at 130° C. for 1 h. DMF was then evaporated, the residue was dissolved in CH2Cl2 (5 ml) and washed with H2O (5 ml). Organic phase was dried over Na2SO4, and concentrated. The residue was chromatographed over SiO2 (Merck 230-400 mesh) eluting with CH2Cl2-MeOH(19:1) to provide (RS)-1-(6-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-benzofuran-2-ylmethyl)-4-(4-methyl-benzyl)-piperidin-4-ol (80 mg, 66%) as a yellow oil, MS:m/e=368.4 (M+H+).