4-Propylcyclohexanone → 1-(4-Bromo-2-fluorophenyl)-4-propylcyclohexanol

Under a nitrogen atmosphere, n-BuLi (108.0 mL, 174.0 mmol) was slowly added dropwise, at −70° C. or lower, to a THF (300 mL) solution of 4-bromo-2-fluoro-1-iodobenzene (67) (50.0 g, 166.0 mmol). The reaction mixture was agitated at −70° C. or lower for 1 hour, and then 4-propylcyclohexanone (66) (24.5 g, 174.0 mmol) was slowly added dropwise thereto. The reaction mixture was returned to room temperature, and then quenched with 200 mL of 1N hydrochloric acid aqueous solution, and extracted with 100 mL of toluene three times. Combined organic layers were washed with a saturated aqueous solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate, water and saturated brine, and then dried over magnesium sulfate, and a solvent was distilled off by an evaporator. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography, and thus 1-(4-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)-4-propylcyclohexanol (68) (42.0 g, yield 80.2%) was obtained.