1: (R,R)-dimethoxydiphenylethane / cyclohexane; diethyl ether; toluene / 0.7 h / -45 °C 2: cerium(IV) diammonium nitrate / acetonitrile; H2O / 2.5 h / 0 - 20 °C 3: aq. NaOH / acetonitrile / 1 h / 0 °C 4: 53 percent / RuCl3 hydrate; HIO4 / CCl4; acetonitrile; H2O / 48 h / 20 °C View Scheme

TiI4 in tetrahydrofuran T=-78 - 20°C; Mannich-type reaction; 15.5 h;