The product was extracted with CH2Cl2 (150 mL × 3), the organic phases dried with MgSO4 and the solvent removed in vacuo. The product was purified using column chromatography on SiO2 (700 g, 3 inch diameter) with 4:1 v/v hexanes:ethyl acetate. The cyano-alcohol product, 5, was collected and concentrated under reduced pressure to yield a colorless oil (18 g, 96%).