A mixture of methyl E4-[2-(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-oxazolylmethoxy)benzyloxyimino]-4-phenylbutyrate (1.60 g), methanol (5 ml), tetrahydrofuran (10 ml) and 1N aqueous sodium hydroxide (5 ml) was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction mixture was poured into water, acidified with 2N hydrochloric acid, and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extract was washed with water, dried (MgSO4), and concentrated to give E-4-[2-(5-methyl-2-phenyl-4-oxazolylmethoxy)benzyloxyimino]-4-phenylbutyric acid (1.42 g, yield 91%) as crystals. Recrystallization from ethyl acetate-hexane gave colorless needles. m.p. 116-117° C.
