PMGB

To a suspension of sodium hydride (0.0004 mol) and alkyl methanesulfonate (0.0004 mol) in 5 mL THF at ice-bath temperature was added benzyl alcohol (0.0004 mol) in 5 mL THF dropwise. After the addition was complete, the resulting reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and then heated at 50 ^oC for 12 h. The reaction mixture was evaporated, diluted with 50 mL ethyl acetate, washed with saturated aq. NaHCO₃ solution and brine, dried (Na₂SO₄) and evaporated to give the corresponding benzyl alkyl ether  which was purified by silica gel column chromatography using ethyl acetate (75% yield, NMR and MS complies).

Procedure was taken from Bhatia S. K.; Hajdu, J. J. Org. Chem. 1988, 53, 5034-5039.

Note: This procedure worked in the presence of lactam and piperazine moieties.