Tert-butyl 2,6-difluoro-3,5-dimethoxyphenylcarbamate (34.6 g, 0.12 mol) was added to 120 mL of trifluoroacetic acid and stirred until completely dissolved to form a homogeneous solution. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. Upon completion of the reaction, the solvent was removed by distillation under reduced pressure. To the residue, saturated sodium bicarbonate solution was slowly added to adjust the pH to 8. The resulting suspension was extracted twice with diethyl ether (appropriate amount each time). The organic phases were combined, washed once with saturated saline, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to give 22 g of 2,6-difluoro-3,5-dimethoxyaniline in 97% yield. The mass spectrum (APCI) showed (M+1)/z of 190.1.
