A solution of 2,6-Dimethoxylbenzyl alcohol (3.33 g, 19.8 mmol) and diisopropyl azodicarboxylate (DIAD, 4.36 g, 21.6 mmol) in THF (30 ml) was added drop wise to a solution of Ethyl 2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)acetate (4 g, 22.2 mmol) and triphenylphosphine (5.66 g, 21.6 mmol) in THF (80 ml). The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 8 hours, diluted with ether and washed with water and brine. The organic layer was dried over Na2SO4, filtered, concentrated, and purified by flash chromatography on a silica gel column (hex:ethyl acetate 4:1) to give the title compound.
