Two efficient methods for the preparation of 2-chloro-6-methylbenzoic acid were developed: one based on nucleophilic aromatic substitution and the other based on carbonylation. In the first approach, 2-chloro-6-fluorobenzaldehyde was converted to its n-butylimine, then treated with 2 equiv of methylmagnesium chloride in THF to give, after hydrolysis, 2-chloro-6- methylbenzaldehyde. Subsequent oxidation of this compound gave the title compound in ...