The dilithium anion of octanoic acid (I) was alkylated with iodomethane in the presence of HMPA to afford 2-methyloctanoic acid (II). After conversion of (II) to the corresponding acid chloride (III), condensation with (-)-epigallocatechin (IV) using trifluoroacetic acid as the catalyst furnished the title 3-O-acyl epigallocatechin.