To a stirred solution of ethyl 2-methyl-4-vinylbenzoate (2.0 g, 10.5 mmol) in 1,2-dichlorobenzene (25 mL) were added 1-(1-bromo-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-3,5-dichlorobenzene (6.44 g, 21.0 mmol), CuCl (208 mg, 21 mmol) and 2,2bipyridyl (0.65 g, 4.1 mmol). The reaction mixture was degassed with argon for 30 min and then stirred at 180° C. for 24 h. After the reaction was deemed complete by TLC, the reaction mixture was cooled to 25° C. and filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by flash chromatography (SiO2, 100-200 mesh; eluting with 25-30% EtOAc in petroleum ether) afforded the title compound as a solid (1.7 g, 40%): 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3) δ 7.91 (d, J =8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.37 (m, 1H), 7.27-7.24 (m, 4H), 6.59 (d, J=16.0 Hz, 1H), 6.59 (dd, J=16.0, 8.0 Hz, 1H), 4.38 (q, J=7.2 Hz, 2H), 4.08 (m, 1H), 2.62 (s, 3H), 1.42 (t, J=7.2 Hz, 3H); ESIMS m/z 415.06 ([M−H]−); IR (thin film) 1717, 1255, 1114 cm−1.
