A facile synthesis of 2-(4-((4-chlorophenyl)(hydroxy)methyl) phenoxy)-2-methylpropanoic acid: Metabolite of anti-hyperlipidemic drug Fenofibrate

Synthesis and characterization of drug metabolites has emerged as an important area of research in consideration to the significant contribution of studies on metabolites in drug research. The present work comprises synthesis of 2-(4-((4-chlorophenyl)(hydroxy)methyl) phenoxy)-2-methylpropanoic acid, a metabolite of anti-hyperlipidemic drug fenofibrate. The desired compound was prepared by two different synthetic routes. The ketone group of fenofibric acid was reduced using sodium borohydride in one route whereas the hydrolysis of isopropyl ester of the reduced fenofibrate was achieved by the mild alkaline hydrolysis in the other path. Both the ways of synthesis furnished the desired compound in excellent yield and purity. The new synthetic congener was characterized by spectroscopic methods.