Patent ID: 7842834

Claim:
A synthetic process comprising reacting a compound of Formula II: [Ar—(R) z —SO 3 −1 ] q M II wherein: Ar is phenyl substituted with one perhaloalkyl group at the 2 position thereof; R is methylene; each R 1 and R 2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl; or any R 1 and R 2 , together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, can form a 5- or 6-membered heterocycle; each R 3 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, C 1 -C 6 alkyl and C 3 -C 7 cycloalkyl; M is a Group I or II metal ion; q is 1 where M is Group I metal ion; or q is 2 where M is a Group II metal ion; and z is 1; with oxalyl chloride in the presence of a catalytic amount of water and in the presence of a co-catalyst for a time and under conditions sufficient to form a compound of Formula III: Ar—(R) z —SO 2 —X III wherein X is Cl and Ar, R and z are as defined above.