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), copper(I) chloride (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.
