Simple Two‐Step ipso Substitution of Aromatic Carboxylic Acids by Alkyl Halides

Methyl-substituted arenes can be synthesized with high regioselectivity in only two steps through formal exchange of an aromatic carboxylic acid function with an alkyl substituent. The results obtained with toluic acid illustrate that good to very good yields can be obtained from inexpensive reagents (see scheme).