To a solution of 4-chloromethyl-2-phenyl-oxazole (100 mg, 0.5 mmol, example 19) in DMF (2 mL) is added methyl 2-methyl-6-[(3-hydroxy-phenoxy)-methyl]-benzoate (136 mg, 0.5 mmol, example 5) followed by K2CO3 (75 mg, 0.54 mmol). The resulting mixture is heated to 60° C. and stirred at this temperature for 8 h. This mixture is then cooled to room temperature, diluted with ether, washed with water and brine, dried over MgSO4 and concentrated. The residue is purified by flash chromatography (silica, 20% ethyl acetate in hexanes) to give the title compound. MS (ESI) 429 (M+H)+.
