1-Bromo-2,3-difluorobenzene → 1-(2,3-Difluorophenyl)-2-(1-(trityloxy)but-3-en-2-yloxy)ethanone

Isopropylmagnesiumchloride-LiCl complex (1.30 M in THF, 155.0 mL, 0.0715 mol) under nitrogen was cooled to 0-5° C., and 2,3-difluorobromobenzene (13.8 g, 0.0715 mol, 1.50 equiv.) was added while T<10° C. After 1 h at 0-5° C., a solution of 1-morpholino-2-(1-(trityloxy)but-3-en-2-yloxy)ethanone 14 (21.8 g, 0.048 mol, 1.0 equiv.) in THF (2.0 vols) was added while T<10° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 2.5 hours and monitored for consumption of 1-morpholino-2-(1-(trityloxy)but-3-en-2-yloxy)ethanone (target >97%). The reaction mixture was quenched by charging into cold sat. aq. NH4Cl (110 mL) and water (33 mL) while T<20° C. 2-Methoxy-2-methylpropane (218 mL) was added and the layers were separated. The organics were washed with sat. aq. NH4Cl (65 mL) and 18% aq. NaCl (44 mL.). The organics were concentrated under vacuum T<25° C. to a light yellow oil of ketone 15 (21.6 g).