A solution of 3′-bromo-2-methoxybiphenyl (1 g, 3.8 mmol) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (15 mL) was stirred at −78° C. and 2.5M n-butyllithium in hexanes (1.6 mL, 4 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 (2-(benzyloxy)-3-tert-butylphenyl)(phenyl)methanone (1.3 g, 3.8 mmol) in tetrahydrofuran (5 mL) was added at such a rate that the temperature did not exceed −65° C. The reaction mixture was allowed to reach room temperature slowly and was poured onto saturated ammonium chloride (100 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 was purified by chromatography on silica (80 g) with 2% ethyl acetate in heptane (3.5 L). Pure 29 (1.2 g, 60%) was isolated.
