Synthesis of 4-(2-thiazolyloxy)phenylalkanoic Acids As An An-tiinflammatory Agent

The efficient synthesis of 4-(2-thiazolyloxy)phenylalkanoic acids (10a-c), which are a potent antiinflammatory agent, was achieved in 5-6 steps starting from isopropoxybenzene and methyl $\alpha-chloro-\alpha-(methylthio)acetate (1)$. The key intermediate (4) was prepared by Friedel-Crafts reaction of isopropoxybenzene with (1) followed by desulfurization and the removal of isopropyl protector. Methyl 4-hydroxyphenylalkanoates (6, 8) were similarly obtained from alkylation of (3) and deprotection.