A new method for xenbucin, which is a antihypercholesteremic agent, is described. Friedel-Crafts reaction of biphenyl with ethyl ${alpha}-chloro-{alpha}-(methylthio)acetate(1)$ afforded ethyl 2-methylthio-2-(4-biphenylyl)acetate(2). Ethyl 2-(4-biphenylyl)butyrate(4) was obtained by ethylation of (2) with NaH and $C_2H_5I$, followed by desulfurization of the resultant ethyl 2-methylthio-2-(4-biphenylyl)butyrate(3) with zinc dust in acetic acid. Xenbucin was synthesized by hydrolysis of (4).