On the preparation of ortho-trifluoromethyl phenyl triflate

In contrast to an earlier report advocating a copper-mediated trifluoromethylation of ortho-iodophenyl triflate, ortho-trifluoromethyl phenyl triflate may be prepared simply by reacting the corresponding phenol with triflic anhydride in the presence of a nucleophilic catalyst and stoichiometric base.