A Short and Efficient Synthesis of the Pharmacological Research Tool GW501516 for the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor δ

Abstract
The most potent and selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) agonist GW501516 (1) was synthesized in 4 steps and 78% overall yield starting from o-cresol by using a one-pot regiocontrolled dialkylation of mercaptophenol 5 as the key step.