Water → 4-(2-(12-(Isopropylthio)dodecanoylamino)phenoxy)-butyric acid

A stirred solution of ester (7) (0.124 g, 0.258 mM) in methanol (10 mL) was treated at room temperature under a nitrogen atmosphere with 2.5N sodium hydroxide solution (0.6 mL). Methanol (2×2 mL) was used to clear the mixture, and the reaction allowed to continue until TLC analysis showed no ester remained. The filtered mixture was concentrated in vacuo and the residue obtained stirred with water (30 mL). After aging, the mixture was filtered (The cake is the sodium salt of the product (100 mg), and the stirred filtrate acidified with dilute hydrochloric acid, aged, filtered, washed with water and dried to give product 8 (0.02 g) as a white solid. M.P. 82-84° C., with softening from 66° C.