The cyclization of ethyl 3-propionylamino-4-(3-methoxyphenoxy)benzoate (I) by means ot POCl3 in refluxing toluene gives ethyl 11-ethyl-3-methoxydibenz[b,f][1,4]oxazepine-8-carboxylate (II), which is then hydrolyzed with NaOH in refluxing methanol water.