The preparation of Elanco Animal Health immunopotentiator(S)-ethyl-1-(2-thiopheneacetyl)-3-piperidinecarboxylate (1) isdescribed. The synthesis includes a new resolution of racemicethyl nipecotate with dibenzoyl-L-tartaric acid. The resolvedsalt is found to couple directly with commercially available2-thiopheneacetyl chloride under environmentally friendlySchotten-Baumann conditions to afford the amide in high yield.The final product is an oil which is purified by wiped filmevaporative distillation.