Nicanartine is readily accessible by a direct ether coupling reaction of 3-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (IV) with 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl mesylate (III) under classical Williams-type reaction conditions. 3-(3,5-Di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propyl mesylate (III) in turn is prepared in good yields by a straightforward two-step reaction sequence (reduction, mesylation), starting from the commercially available antioxidant methyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoate (I) (Ionox 520(TM)).