Fluorination of 1,2,3-, 1,2,4-, and 1,3,5-trihalobenzenes with potassium fluoride in dimethyl sulfone

Three trifluorobenzenes were prepared by reaction of the corresponding trichlorobenzenes with potassium fluoride or pottassium fluoride-cesium fluoride mixtures in dimethyl sulfone. Molar yields were 12.8% for 1,2,3-, 8.3% for 1,2,4-, and 56.2% for 1,3,5-. Improved yields of the 1,2,3- (23.9%) and the 1,2,4- (34.0%) trifluorobenzenes were obtained from certain partially fluorinated intermediates. Several chlorofluorobenzene intermediates were obtained in goods yields by careful control of the reaction variables. The instability of the polyfluorobenzenes in the halogen-exchange reaction medium explains, in part, why only limited yields of the polyfluorobenzenes are obtained by using this method.