The reaction of 3-chloromethylpyridine (I) with the Grignard reagent of 4-bromobenzaldehyde diethylacetal (II) in THF gives 4-(3-pyridylmethyl)benzaldehyde diethylacetal (III), which is hydrolyzed with aqueous 1N HCl to 4-(3-pyridylmethyl)benzaldehyde (IV). The Wittig condensation of (IV) with 1-(ethoxycarbonyl)ethylidenetriphenylphosphorane (V) in CHCl3 affords 3-[4-(3-pyridylmethyl)phenyl]-2-methylacryl ic acid ethyl ester (VI), which is finally hydrolyzed with aqueous NaOH.