How would you prepare heptanoic acid using malonic ester synthesis?

The following steps are involved in the preparation of heptanoic acid from diethylmalonate :

• Diethyl malonate is treated with NaOEt/ EtOH to generate monosodium diethylmalonate.

• Monosodium diethylmalonate is treated with n-pentylchloride to give n-C5H11CH( COOC2H5)2.

• This on acidic hydrolysis gives n-C5H11CH (COOH)2

• This on heating undergoes decarboxylation to give heptanoic acid [ C5H11CH2COOH ].