Practical synthesis of α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetic acid

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0022-1139(95)03338-6

α-(Trifluoromethyl)phenylacetic acid (1) was synthesized in good overall yield starting from the cyanohydrin of α,α,α-trifluoroacetophenone, via hydrogenolysis of α-mesyloxy-α-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetamide or ethyl α-mesyloxy-a-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetate followed by acidic hydrolysis.