In preparation for the reduction, LiAlH4 (2.13 g, 0.0562 mol) was suspended in THF (70 in water (30 mL) was added slowly (30 minutes). The reaction was stirred at 60 °C for 3 hours while monitoring by TLC until all starting material was consumed. The solvent was removed in vacuo and brine was added (20 mL) to the reaction flask. The product was extracted with CH2Cl2 (20 mL × 3), the organic phases dried with MgSO4, and the solvent removed in vacuo to yield the cyano-alcohol product, 5, as a as a yellow oil (2.54 g, 79%). The product was used in the next step without further purification.