To a solution of 2.0 g (9 mmol) of 2-(1H-1,2,3-benzotriazol-1-yl)-N-methoxy-N-methylacetamide in 15 mL anhydrous THF at −78° C., 10 mL (10 mmol) of 1M lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide was added dropwise. After stirring for 25 min, a solution of 2.06 g (10 mmol) of 4-chlorobenzyl bromide in 2 mL anhydrous THF was added. The resulting reaction mixture was allowed to warm to RT and stirred for 6 h. This reaction was quenched, diluted with 75 mL EtOAc and washed 3 times with 10 mL each of brine, After drying the organic phase solvent removal afforded a crude product which was purified on silica gel using 40% EtOAc in hexane as solvent to afford the desired product as a solid. 1H NMR: (CDCl3): δ 3.2 (s, 3H), 3.34 (s, 3H), 3.52 (m, 1H), 3.7 (m, 1H), 6.32 (t, 1H), 6.9-8.2 (m, 8H).
