The benzoylation of tyramine (2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethylamine) (I) with 4-chlorobenzoyl chloride (II) in pyridine gives 4-(4-chlorobenzoylaminoethyl)phenol (III), which by condensation with ethyl alpha-bromoisobutyrate (IV) by means of K2CO3 in refluxing butanone affords ethyl alpha-[4-(4-chlorobenzoylaminoethyl)phenoxy]isobutyrate (V). Finally, this compound is hydrolyzed with KOH in dioxane - water.