Step 3: Methyl 4,5-difluoro-2-nitrobenzoate (23.0 g, 106 mmol) was dissolved in EtOAc (200 mL) and 10% Pd/C catalyst (wet, 50% water content, 6.0 g) was added. The reaction mixture was placed in a Parr hydrogenation reactor and the reaction was oscillated at 50 PSI hydrogen pressure for 3 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the catalyst was removed by filtration through a diatomaceous earth pad, and the filtrate was concentrated by rotary evaporation to afford methyl 2-amino-4,5-difluorobenzoate (1c) as a colorless solid with a yield of 19.0 g in 96% yield.
