2-(3′, 5′-Difluorophenyl)-3-(4′-methylsulfonylphenyl) cyclopent-2-enone (1) displays high selectivity and potency against COX-2. Three efficient syntheses of this diarylcyclopentenone are described. The first approach employs a Suzuki coupling reaction as the key step while the second synthesis features an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts acylation. The third, and preferred route to this compound involves a sequential malonate ...