2-Methoxyphenethylamine (I) is condensed with methyl 4-formylbenzoate (II) to form imine (III), which is further reduced to amine (IV) with NaBH4 in MeOH. Alkylation of amine (IV) by ethyl 5-bromovalerate (V) affords the amino diester (VI). Methyl ether cleavage in (VI) by means of BBr3 gives rise to the phenol compound (VII), which is alkylated with 4-(chloromethyl)stilbene (VIII) to yield ether (IX). Catalytic hydrogenation of stilbene (IX) yields the phenethylbenzyl derivative (X). Finally, alkaline hydrolysis of the methyl ester groups of (X) leads to the title dicarboxylic acid.