Reductive amination of the methionine methyl ester adduct of 2-(2-methylphenyl)-4-aminomethyl benzoic acid (I) with 1-trityl-4-formylimidazole (II) gave the secondary amine (III). After trityl group deprotection, the resultant methyl ester (IV) was hydrolyzed to the target carboxylic acid by using LiOH.