A mixture of 2,5-dichloro-3-nitrobenzoic acid (23.6 g, 100 mmol), powdered potassium carbonate (41.1 g, 300 mmol), and 4-(aminoethyl)benzoic acid (60.04 g, 400 mmol) in 250 ml of methanol was refluxed under argon for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into 650 ml of 10% aqueous hydrochloric acid solution. The solid was collected and triturated with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate extract was decanted, dried with magnesium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give 20.15 g (57.5%) of the title compound; mp 255°-257° C.
