The reaction of 2-iodo-5-methylbenzoic acid (I) with 4-hydroxyacetophenone (II) by means of K2CO3 in nitrobenzene at 150 C gives 2-(4-acetylphenoxy)-5-methylbenzoic acid (III), which by reduction with LiAlH4 in refluxing THF is converted into 2-[4-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenoxy]-5-methylbenzyl alcohol (IV). The reaction of (IV) with SOCl2 in refluxing CHCl3 affords 2-[4-(1-chloroethyl)phenoxy]-5-methylbenzyl chloride (V), which is treated with NaCN in refluxing dioxane ethanol-water yielding the dinitrile (VI). The hydrolysis of (VI) with KOH in refluxing ethanol-water gives 2-[4-[2-(carboxymethyl)-4-methylphenoxy]phenyl]propionic acid (VII), which is finally cyclized by treatment with polyphosphoric acid (PPA) at 120 C.

The reaction of 2-iodo-5-methylbenzoic acid (I) with 4-hydroxyacetophenone (II) by means of K2CO3 in nitrobenzene at 150 C gives 2-(4-acetylphenoxy)-5-methylbenzoic acid (III), which by reduction with LiAlH4 in refluxing THF is converted into 2-[4-(1-hydroxyethyl)phenoxy]-5-methylbenzyl alcohol (IV). The reaction of (IV) with SOCl2 in refluxing CHCl3 affords 2-[4-(1-chloroethyl)phenoxy]-5-methylbenzyl chloride (V), which is treated with NaCN in refluxing dioxane ethanol-water yielding the dinitrile (VI). The hydrolysis of (VI) with KOH in refluxing ethanol-water gives 2-[4-[2-(carboxymethyl)-4-methylphenoxy]phenyl]propionic acid (VII), which is finally cyclized by treatment with polyphosphoric acid (PPA) at 120 C.