• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.131-134
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• 1991

A new method for the synthesis of butibufen, which is a non steroidal anti-iriflammatory agent, is described. Friedel-Crafts reaction of isobutylbenzene with ethyl $\alpha$-chloro-.alpha.-(methylthio) acetate (1) gives ethyl $\alpha$-methylthio-(p-isobutylphenyl)acetate (2). Ethyl 2-methylthio-2-(4-isobutylphenyl)butyrate (3) is obtained from treatment of the compound (2) with NaH and Etl. Butibufen (5) is synthesized by reductive desulfurization of the compound (3) with zinc dust-acetic acid or Raney nickel, followed by hydrolysis of the resultant ethyl 2-(4-isobutylphenyl)butyrate (4).