2-Nitrobenzoyl chloride → N-[4-bromo-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-nitrobenzamide

A solution of 3-amino-6-bromobenzotrifluoride (Fluka, Buchs, Switzerland; 24.0 g, 100 mmol) in ethyl acetate (240 mL) is added to a stirred aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (110 mL of 1 M) at room temperature. This stirred solution is then treated dropwise over 30 minutes with a solution of 2-nitrobenzoyl chloride (Fluka, Buchs, Switzerland; 14.5 mL, 110 mmol) in ethyl acetate (150 mL). The resulting mixture is then stirred for 30 min at ambient temperature. The mixture is extracted with ethyl acetate (3×100 mL) and the combined extracts are sequentially washed with hydrochloric acid (2×100 mL of 2M), water (2×100 mL), saturated aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate solution (2×100 mL) and saturated aqueous sodium chloride (1×100 mL), dried (MgSO4), filtered and the solvent is evaporated under reduced pressure to yield the crude product which is purified by recrystallisation from ethyl acetate-hexane to give the title compound as a beige crystalline solid, m.p. 157–158° C.