Process for preparing 4'-trifluoromethyl-2-methylbiphenyl and 4'-trifluoromethyl-biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid from o-tolylmetallates

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for preparing a compound of the formula (I) 1 in which R is methyl or carboxyl, which comprises coupling an ortho-tolylmetallate of the formula (II) with a compound of the formula (III) 2 in which M is —MgF, —MgCl, —MgBr, —Mgl, —Li, —ZnF, —ZnCl, —ZnBr or —Znl and X is F, Cl, Br, I, N2+, straight-chain or branched (C1-C20)-alkoxy, arylsulfonate or alkylsulfonate in the presence of an Ni, Pd or platinum metal catalyst to give a compound of the formula (I) where R is CH3 and, if appropriate, oxidizing the compound of the formula (I) where R is CH3 to give the compound of the formula (I) where R is carboxyl.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.