It can be prepared in two different ways: 1) The saponification of 4-(2-acetylaminoethyl)benzoic acid (I), with NaOH affords 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzoic acid (II), which is then acylated with 2-methoxy-5-chlorobenzoyl chloride (III) by means of sodium acetate in acetone.
2) The Friedel-Crafts acetylation of 5-chloro-2-methoxy-N-(beta-phenylethyl)benzamide (IV) with acetyl chloride (V) by means of AlCl3 in dichloromethane gives 4-[2-(5-chloro-2-methoxybenzamido)ethyl]acetophenone (VI), which is then oxidized with Br2 and NaOH in water.