A mixture of 13 parts of 1-(4-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)ethanone, 14.9 parts of (chloromethyl)benzene, 16.4 parts of potassium carbonate, 0.1 parts of potassium iodide and 120 parts of 2-propanone was stirred overnight at reflux temperature. The reaction mixture was evaporated. The reaction mixture was poured into water. The product was extracted three times with trichloromethane. The combined extracts were dried, filtered and evaporated. The residue was crystallized from a mixture of 2-propanol and water. The product was filtered off and dried, yielding 11 parts (58%) of 1-[4-fluoro-2-(phenylmethoxy)phenyl]ethanone (intermediate 76).
