More conveniently, it can be prepared from methyl benzoate by reaction with KCH2S(O)CH3 to give PhC(O)CH(SCH3)(OH), which is oxidized with copper(II) acetate.
This synthesis method involves the use of methyl benzoate as a starting material and subsequent conversion to the target compound via a reaction with potassium thioacetate and subsequent oxidation using copper(II) acetate.