Process for the preparation of halodifluorobenzene

A process for preparing a 1-halo-3,5-difluorobenzene of formula (I)

• the process comprising,
• reacting a compound of formula (II)
• in the presence of a halogenating agent comprising a bromine source and/or a chlorine source and an oxidizing agent to form a compound of
• formula (III)
• wherein X is bromo or chloro in formulas (I) and (III);
• and
• reacting the compound of formula (III) in the presence of a nitrite source, a copper catalyst and an oxidizable secondary alcohol to form the 1-halo-3,5-difluorobenzene of formula (I).