1-Bromo-2-nitro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzene → 2-Nitro-4-(trifluoromethoxy)benzonitrile

A solution of 2-nitro-4-trifluoromethoxy-bromobenzene (2.0 g) in N,N-dimetbylformamide (2 ml) was treated with copper (I) cyanide (0.62 g) and the mixture heated at 150° C. for 1 hour. Toluene (10 ml) was added and the mixture was maintained at reflux for 1 hour. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate evaporated to give a dark oil which was purified by chromatography eluting with ethyl acetate/hexane (1:9) to give 2-nitro-4-trifluoromethoxybenzonitrile (1.1 g) as a yellow liquid, NMR (CDCl3) 7.65(m,1H), 8.0(d,1H), 8.15(m,1H).