Floctafenine is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Floctafenine can be synthesized beginning with the conversion of ortho-trifluoromethyl aniline (1) to a quinolol.

[2][3][4] The compound is then condensed with ethoxy methylene malonic diethyl ester (EMME) and cyclized thermally (2).

That intermediate is then saponified; the resulting acid is decarboxylated and finally converted to the 4-chloroquinoline (3) by reaction with phosphorus oxychloride.

The displacement of chlorine with methyl anthranilate (4) then affords the coupled intermediate (5).