General procedure for the synthesis of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)iodobenzene from 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)iodobenzene: In a test tube equipped with a magnetic stirrer, 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)iodobenzene (1.0 mmol), CuCl2 (13.4 mg, 0.1 mmol), KOH (336 mg, 6.0 mmol), ethylene glycol (12 μL, 0.2 mmol), and DMSO/H2O mixed solvent (1.0 mL/0.5 mL). The system was replaced by argon gas and then placed in an oil bath preheated to 120 °C with stirring for 24 hours. After completion of the reaction, it was cooled to room temperature and the reaction mixture was extracted by partitioning with 5% HCl aqueous solution and ethyl acetate. The organic phase was washed sequentially with water and saturated saline, dried over anhydrous MgSO4 and concentrated under reduced pressure to remove the solvent. The crude product was further purified by column chromatography (eluent: EtOAc/hexane) to afford the target product 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenol.
