Efficient synthesis of bifenazate

The synthesis of bifenazate using a two-step procedure has been accomplished with an overall yield of 26%. The procedure involved the Lewis acid-catalyzed electrophilic aromatic substitution of 4-methoxybiphenyl with diisopropyl azodicarcoxylate (DIAD) to give a hydrazinedicarboxylate intermediate that was then subjected to a decarboxylation reaction to give bifenazate.