For the development of new COX-2 inhibitors, 1,5-diarylhydantoins 5a∼5c and 1,5-diaryl-2-thiohydantoin 6a∼6c were synthesized from commercially available phenylacetic acids through esterification, bromination, C-N bond formation and cyclization. Esters 2a∼c were efficiently synthesized from the starting materials 1a∼c by refluxing in absolute methanol for 3 hours with catalytic concentrated sulfuric acid. Bromination of 2a∼c was carried out with use of N-bomosuccinimide at rt in dichloromethane. The bromine of 3a∼c was substituted with aniline in ethanol or N,N-dimethylformamide to provide 4a∼c. Hydantoins and 2-thiohydantoins were synthesized from 4a∼c by treatment of potassium isocyanate or potassium thiocyanate in dil-ethanol with triethylamine.