The reaction of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin) (I) with formaldehyde by means of K2CO3 in water gives 3-(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-diphenylhydantoin (II), which is treated with PCl3 in dichloromethane to afford 3-(chloromethyl)-5,5-diphenylhydantoin (III). The condensation of (III) with silver dibenzyl phosphate (IV) in refluxing benzene yields dibenzyl 5,5-diphenylhydantoin-3-ylmethyl phosphate (V), which is converted to the corresponding free phosphoric acid (VI) by reduction with H2 over Pd/C in ethyl acetate. Finally, this compound is treated with NaOH in methanol.