1: Li2CO3 / dimethylformamide / 0.67 h / 80 °C 2: NaBH4, CeCl3 / methanol / 0.17 h / 20 °C 3: 80percent aq. formic acid / 0.67 h / 80 - 85 °C View Scheme

lithium dimethyl cuprate; lithium iodide 1) THF, Et2O, -78 deg C; 2) HMPA, -78 deg C to r.t.; Yield given. Multistep reaction;