An alternative route for synthesis of o-trifluoroacetylanilines as useful fluorine-containing intermediates

A series of o-trifluoroacetyl aniline derivatives were synthesized in three steps. In this method, we first utilized trifluoroacetic anhydride to introduce trifluoroacetyl group to the ortho position of aniline with higher yield than that of some previously reported methods. In addition, the procedure is shown to be highly regiospecific. This type of compounds can be used as the key intermediates in the preparation of a variety of inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase which is an important pharmacological target of many anti-AIDS agents.