Potassium Hydroxide → 4-Bromo-2-chloro-1-(difluoromethoxy)benzene

A solution of 4-bromo-2-chlorophenol (830 mg) and a 30% potassium hydroxide solution (16 mL) in acetonitrile (16 mL) was cooled to −78° C. 2-Chloro-2,2-difluoroacetophenone (2.95 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 40 hours. The reaction solution was cooled to room temperature and extracted with diethyl ether. The organic layer was washed with water and brine, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate and filtered. The solvent was then evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (hexane:ethyl acetate=10:1→10:1) to give 4-bromo-2-chloro-1-(difluoromethoxy)benzene as a colorless oil (533 mg, 52%).