To a stirred solution of 32.0 g (147 mmol) of (2R)-2-[(S)-hydroxy(phenyl)methyl]hex-5-ynoic acid from Step C above in 500 mL of anhydrous acetonitrile at ambient temperature under an atmosphere of nitrogen was added 77.0 mL (513 mmol) of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene 22 mL followed by 66.3 g (440 mmol) of tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride in three portions over 10 min. The reaction mixture was stirred for 4 h then evaporated in vacuo to remove all volatiles. The residue was diluted with 300 mL of dichloromethane and 100 mL of water. A 1.0 M aqueous hydrogen chloride solution was added to the mixture until a pH of 3 was achieved in the aqueous layer. The phases were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with dichloromethane (2×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with water (50 mL), brine (50 mL) then dried over magnesium sulfate. After filtration and evaporation in vacuo the residue was dissolved in 350 mL of methanol and 350 mL (280 mmol) of a 0.8 M aqueous potassium carbonate solution was added. The resulting mixture was stirred for 1.5 h then evaporated in vacuo to remove all volatiles. The residue was diluted with 300 mL of dichloromethane and the aqueous phase was acidified with a 5.0 M aqueous hydrogen chloride solution until a pH of 3 was achieved. The phases were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with dichloromethane (2×100 mL). The combined organics were washed with water (50 mL), brine (50 mL) then dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography eluting with a 3-15% ethyl acetate in hexanes gradient to afford the title compound as a colorless solid (42.3 g, 86.6%). 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.36-7.27 (m, 5H), 4.78 (d, J=8.7, 1H), 2.90-2.86 (m, 1H), 2.19-2.11 (m, 1H), 2.10-2.03 (m, 1H), 1.90 (t, J=2.6 Hz, 1H), 1.75-1.67 (m, 1H), 1.41-1.34 (m, 1H), 0.83 (s, 9H), 0.02 (s, 3H), −0.27 (s, 3H). LC-MS: m/z (ES) 333.2 (MH)+.
