Methyl (±)-4-[α-hydroxy-5-(1-imidazolyl)-2-methylbenzyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzoate (9.2 g) was suspended in dichloroethane (110 ml) and pyridine (3.15 ml), and a solution of (S)-2-(4-chlorobenzenesulfonylamino)propionyl chloride (8.9 g) in dichloroethane (25 ml) was added dropwise over 5 minutes with stirring under ice-cooling. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 3 hours and the reaction mixture was washed successively with water, 5% citric acid, 5% potassium carbonate and water. The organic layer was separated and dried over magnesium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 15.7 g of methyl (±)4-[5-(1-imidazolyl)-α-{(S)-2-(4-chlorobenzenesulfonylamino)propionyloxy}-2-methylbenzyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzoate as a pale-yellow oil. This was crystallized from ethyl acetate (27 ml) and isopropyl ether (108 ml) and the obtained crystals were recrystallized from ethyl acetate (15 ml) and isopropyl ether (30 ml) to give 5.2 g of methyl (S)-4-[5-(1-imidazolyl)-α-{(S)-2-(4-chlorobenzenesulfonylamino)propionyloxy}-2-methylbenzyl]-3,5-dimethylbenzoate as white crystals, melting point 126-128° C.
