This compound can be obtained in two different ways, both starting from 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (I): 1) The cyclization of (I) with 3-bromo-3-(p-chlorobenzoyl)propionic acid (II) in acetic acid at 100 C gives 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxythiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazole-2-acetic acid (III), which is dehydrated by means of HCl in refluxing dioxane. 2) The condensation of (I) with ethyl 3-bromo-3-(p-chlorobenzoyl)propionate (IV) in refluxing ethanol gives 3-(benzimidazol-2-ylthio)-3-(p-chlorobenzoyl)propionic acid ethyl ester (V), which is cyclized by treatment with water yielding 3-(p-chlorophenyl)-2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxythiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazole-2-acetic acid ethyl ester (VI). This compound is then hydrolyzed by treatment with NaOH in hot water to afford (III).