Ethyl 3-[3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-oxopropanoate

A mixture of 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)bromobenzene (0.5 mmol) and potassium monoethyl malonate (0.75 mmol) was added to a 30 mL microwaveable tubular flask with THF (10 mL) with stirring, followed by Pd(OAc)2 (5 mol%), Xantphos (5 mol%), MgCl2 (0.75), Et3N (0.75), imidazole (1 mmol). mmol), imidazole (1 mmol), then Co2(CO)8 (0.15 mmol) was added and the tubular vial was immediately sealed and microwaved at 90C for 30 min. The mixture was diluted with ethyl acetate and water. The ethyl acetate layer was separated, dried with sodium sulfate and concentrated. The crude product obtained was purified by column chromatography and the pure compound was obtained using 0 to 5% hexane solution of ethyl acetate.