To a stirred solution of Ethyl 2-Ethoxy-6-pentadecylbenzoate (20 g, 240 mmol) in dimethyl sulfoxide (80 mL) was added potassium tert-butoxide (20 g, 890 mmol) in portions. The solution was heated to 68° C. on a water bath for 3 h, the reaction was monitored by TLC using a hexane-ethyl acetate (9:1) solvent system. The reaction mass was cooled to 15° C., poured into ice water, and then acidified with 10% dilute hydrochloric acid. The precipitated solid was filtered and washed thoroughly with distilled water, and the crude mass was recrystallized in petroleum ether (50 mL) to yield an off-white solid of 2-Ethoxy-6-pentadecylbenzoic Acid (15 g, 80%).
