Radical bromination of methyl 3-fluoro-4-methylbenzoate (I) by using N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of AIBN affords the benzylic bromide (II). Subsequent reaction of bromide (II) with triphenylphosphine provides the phosphonium salt (III). Wittig olefination of N-(dicyclohexylacetyl)-4-piperidone (IV) with phosphonium salt (III) leads to the benzylidenepiperidine (V). Finally, basic hydrolysis of methyl ester (V) provides the target carboxylic acid