Acetaldehyde → 1-(3-(Methoxymethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)ethanol

A solution of 3-(methoxymethoxy)pyridine (9.8 g, 70 mmol) and THF (40 mL) was added to a stirring mixture of tert-butyllithium (91 mL of a 1.7 M solution with pentane, 160 mmol) and THF (100 mL) at −78° C. After 1 h, acetaldehyde (9.9 mL, 180 mmol) was added, and the reaction mixture was stirred for 3 h and then warmed to RT. After 21 h, the reaction mixture was partitioned between ethyl acetate and saturated aqueous NaHCO3, the layers were separated, the organic material was washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO3, brine, dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated. The residue was purified by flash chromatography on silica gel (1:1 hexane-ethyl acetate) to afford 4.6 g (36%) of 1-(3-(methoxymethoxy)pyridin-4-yl)ethanol as a colorless solid.