Under an Ar atmosphere, 12 mL of toluene, 3 mL of methanol, and 3 mL of 2M aqueous sodium carbonate solution were added to 500 mg (1.93 mmol) of ethyl (3-bromophenoxy)acetate and 352 mg (2.32 mmol) of (2-methoxyphenyl)boronic acid, and the mixture was degassed. Further, 112 mg (0.097 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) was added thereto, and the mixture was heated under stirring at 80° C. for 6 hours. After the mixture was cooled to room temperature, ethyl acetate and water were added thereto to separate the mixture. The water layer was separated, and filtration was performed. Thereafter, acidification was performed with 1N hydrochloric acid, and extraction with ethyl acetate was performed. The organic layer was washed with saturated saline and dried over anhydride magnesium sulfate, followed by filtration and condensation, thereby giving 290 mg of [(2′-methoxybiphenyl-3-yl)oxy]acetic acid (yield: 58%).
