Acetic Acid → 2,4-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetic acid

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

2,4-Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile (41.5 mmol, 10.51 g) was taken up in 100 mL acetic acid, 50 mL conc. H2SO4, and 20 mL water. This was heated to 120° C. for 3 h. The reaction was then diluted with 1 L ice water, and extracted with 2×300 mL ethyl acetate. The combined organics were washed with 2×200 mL water, dried with brine and Na2SO4, and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue was taken up in a minimum of diethyl ether and crystallized by adding sufficient hexane to precipatate the product. The solid was collected to give 7.74 g of 2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl) phenyl acetic acid as white crystals, 68.5%. NMR 1H (CDCl3) δ 7.93 (s, 1H), 7.80 (d, J=7.9 Hz,1H), 7.55 (d, J=7.9 Hz, 1H), 3.94 (s, 2H).

Provenance & Evidence