The reaction of 1-methylcyclohexylmethanol (II) with 4-chloronitrobenzene (III) by means of NaH in hot DMSO gives 4-(1-methylcyclohexylmethoxylnitrobenzene (III), which is reduced with H2 over Pd/C in methanol yielding 4-(1-methylcyclohexylmethoxylaniline (IV). Diazotation of (IV) with NaNO2 and HCl in water affords a solution of the corresponding diazonium chloride (V), which is condensed with methyl acrylate (VI) by means of Cu2O affording methyl 2-chloro-3-[4-(1-methylcyclohexylmethoxyl)phenyl]propionate (VII). The cyclization of (VII) with thiourea (VIII) by means of sodium acetate in hot 2-methoxyethanol gives 2-imino-5-[4-(1-methylcyclohexylmethoxy)benzyl]thiazolidin-4-one (IX), which is finally hydrolyzed with HCl in refluxing 2-methoxyethanol - water.
By cyclization of (VIII) with methyl 2-(methanesulfonyloxy)-3-[4-(1-methylcyclohexylmethoxy)phenyl]propionate (X) by means of sodium acetate in hot 2-methoxyethanol, followed by hydrolysis with HCl in ethanol water.