A mixture of methyl 2-bromo-3-[3-fluoro-4-(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-oxazolylmethoxy)phenyl]propionate (14.1 g), 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) (4.8 g) and toluene (150 ml) was stirred for 2 hours at temperatures ranging from 80 to 90° C. The reaction mixture was poured into 2N HCl, which was subjected to extraction with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate layer was washed with water and dried (MgSO4), followed by distilling off the solvent under reduced pressure to yield methyl 3-fluoro-4-(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-oxazolylmethoxy)cinnamate (10.0 g). The product was recrystallized from dichloromethane-methanol to give colorless prisms, m.p.167-168° C.
