A mixture of methyl 2-chloro-4-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-5-oxazolepropionate (1.33 g), 2-methylimidazole (1.33 g), potassium carbonate (2.00 g) and N-methylpyrrolidone (10 mL) was stirred at 110° C. for 2 h. The reaction mixture was poured into iced water (100 mL), and the precipitated crystals were collected by filtration, washed with water and air-dried to give the title compound as crystals. Recrystallization from ethyl acetate-hexane gave pale-yellow prism crystals (1.07 g, 71%). melting point: 94-95° C.
