A Practical Synthesis of 4-Amino-2-(Trifluoromethyl)nicotinicAcid

A practical synthesis of 4-amino-2-(trifluoromethyl)-nicotinic acid is described. 2-(Trifluoromethyl)pyridine was lithiated using lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide (LTMP) in the presence of 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI) and followed by CO 2 quench to give the C-3 carboxylation product. Subsequent directed C-4 lithiation of carboxylation product afforded 4-iodo-2-(trifluoromethyl)nicotinic acid, which was coupled with tert-butyl carbamate under Pd-catalyzed conditions and followed by Boc deprotection to yield the title product in four steps and 50% overall yield.