e) 34.8 g of 2-acetoxymethyl-3-methyl-4-(trifluoroethoxy)pyridine (equivalent to 18.7 g, 0.071 mol) obtained in the previous step was used as raw material, which was dissolved in 15 ml of a solvent mixture of methanol/water (1:1) at room temperature. The pH of the reaction system was adjusted with 33% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution to 13. The reaction was carried out at a temperature of 25 to 30 °C and a pH range of 12.5 to 13.5 and the progress of the reaction was monitored by HPLC. Upon completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture was neutralized with 36% hydrochloric acid and subsequently extracted with dichloromethane. The organic layer was dried and concentrated to 60 ml. The yield of the product 2-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)pyridine was 95-97% as determined by HPLC.
