2,2,2-trimethylacetic acid in dimethylammonium 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate; toluene T=120°C; 10 h;

1: 96 percent / NaBH4 / trifluoroacetic acid / 10 deg C to 15 deg C, rt, overnight 2: 80 percent / nBuLi / tetrahydrofuran / -78 deg C, 70 min, -78 deg C to rt 3: 1.) trifluoroacetic anhydride, 2.) CrO3 / 1.) CH2Cl2, 0 deg C to rt, 2.) aq. AcOH, rt, 3 h View Scheme