The solution of (3-isopropenyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydrobenzoimidazol-
1-yl)-acetic acid (3.33 g, 17.79 mmol) in
methanol (20 mL) was stirred with IN NaOH (19.19 ml,
19.18 mmol) at room temperature overnight. The solvent
was evaporated and the residue dissolved in water and
acidified with IN HCl. The precipitate was filtered off,
washed with water and dried under vacuum to give 2.7 g
(91% yield) of (3-isopropenyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-benzoimidazol-
1-yl)-acetic acid as a white solid: