The Grignard condensation of phenylethynylmagnesium bromide with acetic anhydride in THF gives 4-phenyl-3-butyn-2-one (II), which is cyclized with 1-aminopyridinium iodide (III) by means of KOH in dichloromethane yielding the pyrazolopyridine (IV). The reaction of (IV) with 2-oxoacetic acid (V) by means of acetic acid in dimethoxyethane (DME) affords the butyric acid derivative (VI), which is cyclized with hydrazine in hot DMA to give the pyridazinone (VII). The condensation of (VII) with 4-bromobutyric acid ethyl ester (VIII) by means of benzyltriethylammonium chloride in hot DME/methanol provides the butyric ester intermediate (IX), which is finally hydrolyzed with NaOH.