Abstract: Synthesis of etodolac,a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, was studied.In the study o-nitroethylbenzene as raw material was reduced by Fe / hydrochloric acid.The intermediate o-ethylaniline could be diazotized and reduced by sodium sulfite to give o-ethylphenylhydrazine,and 7-ethyltryptophol was obtained by condensation of o-ethylphenylhydrazine and 2,3-dihydrofuran in isobutanol as solvent.Finally 7-ethyltryptophol without separation reacted with methyl 3-oxopentanoate and was hydrolyzed to give the title compound.The optimal reaction conditions(temperature, time,molar yield) were as follows.Reduction of nitro group：reflux，3 h，96.2%;diazotization：0 ℃，0.5 h;reduction of diazonium salt：70—75 ℃，3 h，92.5%(two steps);synthesis of 7-ethyltryptophol：reflux，3 h;preparation of etodolac methyl ester：0 ℃，1.5 h，63.0%(two steps);hydrolysis：reflux，2.5 h，95.0%.The structures of etodolac and its methyl ester were the same as those reported in literature.