A new method for felbinac, which is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, is described. Friedel-Crafts reaction of biphenyl with ethyl alpha-chloro-alpha-(methylthio)acetate(1) afforded ethyl 2-methylthio-2-(4-biphenylyl)acetate(4). Felbinac (7) was synthesized by desulfurization of compound (4) with zinc dust in acetic acid, followed by hydrolysis of the resultant ethyl 2-(4-biphenylyl)acetate(6).