To a cooled (−10° C.) solution of 6-(4-fluoro-3-methylbenzyloxy)hexanoic acid (0.565 g, 2.222 mmol) in 15 mL of THF, were added stepwise triethylamine (0.80 mL, 5.713 mmol) and pivaloyl chloride (0.27 mL, 2.179 mmol). The reaction mixture was stirred at −10° C. for 1 h after which LiCl (0.092 g, 2.179 mmol) and (R)-4-benzyloxazolidin-2-one (0.375 g, 2.116 mmol) were added stepwise. After warming slowly to room temperature with stirring overnight, the reaction mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate (80 mL) and washed with saturated NaHCO3 solution and brine. The organic layer was dried (Na2SO4), filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The product was isolated by Flash column chromatography (silica gel column) eluting with 0-100% dichloromethane/hexanes to give the title compound as colorless oil (0.482 g, 52% yield). LC-MS: tR=11.2 min; m/z 414 (M+H)+.
