N-bromobutanimide → 4-Chloro-5-fluoro-alpha-bromo-2-picoline

4-Chloro-5-fluoro-2-picoline (2.9 g, 20 mmol), the product of Example 66, was dissolved in 50 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane in a dry flask. The resultant solution was heated, with stirring, to 75° C. and 4.09 (23 mmol) of N-bromosuccinimide was added, followed by 100 mG (0.7 mmol) of 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), a free radical initiator. After the reaction mixture was stirred at 75° C. for 24 hours, it was diluted with 450 mL of methylene chloride and washed with 3×400 mL of water. The organic layer was separated and dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dried in vacuo to give 3.5 g (69% yield) of the title compound as an amber oil; 1H NMR (CDCl3) d 4.50 (s, 2H), 7.54 (d, 1H), 8.44 (s, 1H).