Friedel-Crafts acylation of 3-(p-methoxybenzoyl)pyrrole (I) with p-methoxybenzoyl chloride (II) gives rise to diketone (III). Subsequent alkylation of pyrrole (III) with ethyl bromoacetate (IV) in the presence of NaH and tris[(2-methoxyethoxy)ethyl]amine (TDA) furnishes the pyrrolylacetate (V). Finally, saponification of the ethyl ester group of (V) affords the target carboxylic acid.