3,4-Difluorocinnamic acid (I) is converted to the corresponding methyl ester (II) by treatment with iodomethane and K2CO3 in DMF. Subsequent reduction of ester (II) employing DIBAL in cold THF affords the cinnamyl alcohol (III). Esterification of (III) with 4-fluorophenylacetyl chloride (IV) gives rise to ester (V). This is then subjected to an asymmetric Ireland-Claisen rearrangement in the presence of the chiral catalyst (S,S)-1,2-bis[[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]sulfonylamino]-1,2-diphenylethane to produce the diaryl pentenoic acid (VI). Coupling of acid (VI) with aminobenzodiazepinone (VII) furnishes amide (VIII). Finally, ozonolysis of the olefin double bond of (VIII) followed by reductive work up with NaBH4 leads to the desired 4-hydroxybutyramide derivative. (1,2)