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Ethyl 3,5-dichlorobenzoate (5 g, 22.8 mmol) and sodium hydride (1.10 g, 27.4 mmol) were dissolved in 35 mL THF under N2. Then 7.8 mL ethyl acetate was added slowly at room temperature and refluxed overnight. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was extracted with ethyl acetate, washed with water and brine, and dried over Na2SO4 to afford Ethyl 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-3-oxopropanoate.

[1] Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, 2016, vol. 24, # 12, p. 2852 - 2863