i) Synthesis of 2-bromo-1-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethanone: 1.03 mL (0.02 mol) of bromine was added dropwise to a 50 mL solution of acetic acid containing 3.77 g (0.019 mol) of 1-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)ethanone at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred continuously at room temperature for 12 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, the acetic acid was removed by distillation under reduced pressure to give a yellow solid precipitate, the target product 2-bromo-1-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-ethanone in 81% yield.
