Abstract Compound (Z)-8a has been found to display interesting antiinflammatory activity. In order to prepare derivatives with a wide variety of substituents in the aromatic part of the molecule, a new synthesis of the key intermediates 9a-g was developed starting from thiophene-3-carboxylic acid (11) and substituted benzyl bromides. The conversion of 9a-g to 10a-g follows a known procedure. Ketones 10a-g, on reaction with alkyl (dialkoxy- ...