Combine 1-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)-2-oxopyrrolidine (0.84 g, 3.16 mmol) and tetrahydrofuran (10 mL). Cool to −78° C. using a dry-ice/acetone bath. Add a solution of sec-butyl lithium (2.56 mL, 1.3 M in hexane, 3.33 mmol). After 30 minutes, add 3-(t-butyldimethylsilyloxy)propyl iodide (1.0 g, 3.33 mmol). After the addition is complete, warm to ambient temperature. After 2 hours, add water and extract three times with ethyl acetate. Dry the combined organic layers over Na2SO4, filter, and concentrate in vacuo to obtain a residue. Chromatograph the residue on silica gel eluting with ethyl acetate to give the title compound.
