A practical synthesis of (2-butyl-5-nitrobenzofuran-3-yl)(4-hydroxyphenyl)methanone, a key intermediate in the preparation of anti arrhythmic drug, is described. The commercially available 4-nitrophenol (3) is converted in five steps to 2-butyl-5-nitrobenzofuran (9) which upon Friedel-Crafts acylation with 4-methoxybenzoyl chloride followed by deprotection of methyl group gives (2).
