A solution of 3′-bromo-2-methoxybiphenyl (1.31 g, 5 mmol) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (20 mL) was stirred at −78° C. and 2.5M n-butyllithium in hexanes (2 mL, 5 mmol) was added at such a rate that the temperature did not exceed −70° C. Stirring was continued at −78° C. for 1 hr. A solution of 1-(2-(benzyloxy)-3-tert-butylphenyl)ethanone (1.41 g, 5 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (8 mL) was added at such a rate that the temperature did not exceed −65° C. Stirring was continued at −78° C. for 20 min and at room temperature for 2 hr. The reaction mixture was poured onto saturated ammonium chloride (80 mL) and extracted with ethyl acetate (150 mL). The organic extract was washed with water (2×80 mL). The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate, filtered and the solvent was removed on a rotary evaporator. The crude product 27 was used as such in the next step.
