In a 250 mL three-necked flask, sodium hydroxide solution (310 g, 7 wt%) and ethyl 2-trifluoromethylnicotinate (100 g) were added. The reaction mixture was heated to 100 °C and the reaction was stirred at this temperature for 1 hour. The progress of the reaction was monitored by gas chromatography (GC). When the conversion reached 99%, the heating was stopped and the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature. The reaction mixture was neutralized with hydrochloric acid solution (61 g, 30 wt%) to pH neutral. Subsequently, the reaction mixture was filtered and the solid product was washed with water to give 2-trifluoromethylnicotinic acid. Yield: 97%; purity: 99.5%.
