Hydrochloric Acid → 2-Chloro-3-fluorobenzoic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A solution of 1.6N n-butyl lithium in hexane (294 ml) was added to 71 ml of tetramethyl ethylene diamine (TMEDA) in tetrahydrofuran at -70° C. under an inert atmosphere. 3-Fluorobenzoic acid (30 g) in tetrahydrofuran was added and the mixture was stirred for one hour. Hexachloroethane (111.5 g) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred for two hours at -70° C. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to 10° C. and acidified (to pH 1) with 3M hydrochloric acid solution, extracted with diethyl ether, dried (anhydrous magnesium sulphate) and concentrated to give a solid that was recrystallised from heptane/ethyl acetate to give 2-chloro-3-fluorobenzoic acid (26 g).

Provenance & Evidence