Halogen-magnesium exchange on unprotected aromatic and heteroaromatic carboxylic acids.

The magnesiation of halogenated aromatic and heteroaromatic carboxylic acids is accomplished by their treatment with MeMgCl in the presence of LiCl and subsequent reaction with i-PrMgCl.LiCl; the resulting double-magnesiated species react with a variety of electrophiles in up to 97% yield.