Arylacetic esters 1 are converted into the corresponding ketene acetals 2 by O-silylation. Compounds 2 smoothly rearrange in refluxing THF to give the ortho-thiomethylated arylacetic acids 4 after hydrolysis. The sequence can be performed with good yields (63-81%) as a one-pot process.
Bourgaux, M., Gilletberwart, AF., Marchand-Brynaert, J., & Ghosez, L. (1995). An Unusual Rearrangement Leading To Ortho-thiomethylation of Arylacetic Acid-derivatives. Synlett : accounts and rapid communications in synthetic organic chemistry, 1, 113-115. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-1995-4848 (Original work published 1995)