Oxidative carbonylation of benzotrifluoride to form trifluoromethylbenzoic acid

The oxidative carbonylation of benzotrifluoride to form trifluoromethylbenzoic acid (TFMBA) has been catalyzed using either Rh(III) or a Pd(II) cation in combination with a carboxylic acid and its anhydride, ammonium metavanadate, CO, and O2. The influence of metal cation and vanadate concentrations, temperature, time, acid composition, and gas pressures, were explored.