The reaction of ethyl 8-nitro-4-oxo-1-benzopyran-2-carboxylate (I) with ammonia in methanol gives the corresponding amide (II), which is dehydrated with POCl3 yielding 2-cyano-8-nitro-1-benzopyran-4-one (III). The cyclization of (III) with sodium azide by means of pyridinium chloride in hot DMF affords 8-nitro-2-(tetrazol-5-yl)-1-benzopyran-4-one (IV), which is hydrogenated with H2 over Pd/C in methanol - HCl giving 8-amino-2-(tetrazol-5-yl)-1-benzopyran-4-one (V). Finally, this compound is condensed with 4-(4-phenylbutoxy)benzoic acid (VI) by means of oxalyl chloride in dichloromethane-pyridine.
2) The acid chloride (IV) is reacted with chloroethanol to give compound (V), which, upon condensation with a piperazine (I), yields lobuprofen.