“…The residual syrup in acetonitri1e:water (9:1, 30 mL) was treated with potassium cyanide (0.24 g, 3.68 mmol) for 2.5 h at room temperature, the solution was concentrated, and the residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, washed successively with 1 M HC1, aqueous saturated NaHC03, and water, dried, and concentrated. The residual syrup was chromatographed on silica gel (light petroleum -ethyl acetate, 3.5: 1) to give compound 2 (0.9 g, 82%), [aID +85 (c 1.35); ir v , , , : 2250 ( e N ) cm-'; 'H nmr 6: 4.68-4.26 (m, 8H, H-1, H-5, 3 x CH2Ph), 3.81 (t,IH,3.71 (d,lH,3.61 (3.61 (dd,lH,J3,4 3.0 Hz,J4,5 9.66 Hz),3.42 (s,3H,OMe),2.80 (dd,IH,J5.6 3.08 Hz,J6,6' 16.7 Hz,, and 2.5 (dd,lH,J5,6,8.3 Hz,. Anal.…”