To a stirred solution of ethyl 2-ethoxy-3-(4-{2-[2-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl]ethoxy}phenyl)propanoate (238.5 mg, 0.5 mmol) in EtOH (5 ml) was added NaOH (2 ml, 2M aq. Solution, 2 mmol) in water (2 ml) at 0° C. at once. The reaction mixture was stirred at RT until all the ester disappeared (TLC). EtOH was removed in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in water. The solution was acidified to pH4 using 3N HCl and the precipitated acid was extracted with EtOAc to give the product as white solid (167 mg, 77.3%).
