To a solution 2,3-difluoro-1-iodo-4-(5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-nonafluoro-octyloxy)-benzene (10A) (1 equi.) in THF (5 mL/mmole), butyllithium (1.3 equi.) was added at −78 C. The reaction mixture was stirred at that temperature for 2 hr,. Then triisopropylborate (1 equi.) was added at that temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred at that temperature for 1 h and at room temperature for 10 h, quenched with water, extracted with ethyl acetate washed with brine, dried over MgSO4, and concentrated in vacuo. Purification by recrystallization from hexane afforded 2,3-difluoro-4-(5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-nonafluoro-octyloxy)-phenylboronic acid (11A), as a white solid (75%).
