ethyl 2-chloro-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylate → ethyl 5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylate

To a solution of ethyl 2-chloro-5-(2,6-difluorophenyl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylate (9.82 g) in ethanol (200 mL) was added 10% palladium carbon (50% containing water, 4.91 g), and the mixture was stirred under a hydrogen atmosphere at 40° C. for 72 hr. The reaction mixture was filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (eluent: hexane-ethyl acetate=4:1) to give the title compound as colorless crystals (yield 3.80 g, 24%).