Raxofelast has been synthesized by a short route involving Friedel-Crafts alkylation of trimethylhydroquinone (I) by methyl 4-bromocrotonate (II). The crude reaction mixture containing methyl 4-(2,5-dihydroxy-3,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2(E)-butenoate (III) was directly submitted to a hydrolytic cyclization in alkaline environment in the presence of a strong reducing agent to afford (?-2,3-dihydro-5-hydroxy-4,6,7-trimethyl-2-benzofuranacetic acid (IV) (IRFI-005). Acetylation of phenolic hydroxyl by routine methods, followed by recrystallization by isopropyl acetate, gave the final product.