Process for producing trifluoromethylacetophenones

A process for the production of a trifluoromethylacetophenone at a purity of at least about 90% and yield of at least about 90% of the general formula:

• F.sub.3 C--(C.sub.6 H.sub.4)-(C.dbd.O)--CH.sub.3
• wherein the position of the CF.sub.3 -- group on the aromatic ring may be in the 2-, 3-, or 4- position relative to the acetyl, --(C.dbd.O)--CH.sub.3, group, said process comprising the steps of:
• (a) reacting a trifluoromethylbenzoyl halide of the general formula:
• F.sub.3 C--(C.sub.6 H.sub.4)-(C.dbd.O)--X
• wherein the position of the CF.sub.3 -- group on the aromatic ring may be in the 2-, 3-, or 4- position relative to the acetyl, --(C.dbd.O)--CH.sub.3, group and X is a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, with a diorganoamine of the general formula
• R.sub.2 NH
• wherein each R is independently a straight or branched chain monovalent aliphatic hydrocarbon with from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms in the presence of an aqueous base, used as an acid acceptor, resulting in the formation of a N,N-dialkyltrifluoromethylbenzamide of the general formula:
• CF.sub.3 --(C.sub.6 H.sub.4)-(C.dbd.O)--NR.sub.2
• wherein the position of the CF.sub.3 -- group on the aromatic ring may be in the 2-, 3-, or 4- position relative to the acetyl, --(C.dbd.O)--CH.sub.3, group, and each R is as defined above;
• and
• (b) adding a methyl Grignard reagent to said benzamide followed by acidification with an aqueous acidification reagent to form said trifluoromethylacetophenone product.