Abstract: | 2-4-(1-Oxo-2-isoindolinyl)phenyl]propanoic acid ( 1 ) having a potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity could be obtained by three methods, which were found to provide extremely useful ways for the synthesis of 1 from the industrial point of view. (E)- and (Z)-Isomers of 2-butenoic acid and oxiranecarboxylic acid derivatives as the intermedaites in the synthesis of 1 were separated and characterized. Furthermore, the optical resolution of (±)-2-4-(1-oxo-2-isoindolinyl)phenyl]propanoic acid was successfully achieved using cinchonidine as a resolution reagent. |