Abstract A variety of 2-(1-bromoalkyl) benzoic acids 4 undergo intramolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction when treated with a CsF-Celite as solid base in acetonitrile under reflux condition to give the corresponding cyclized phthalides in moderate to very good yield. These 2-(1-bromoalkyl) benzoic acids 4 are formed by the α-bromination of 2-alkylbenzoic acids 3 using N-bromosuccinimide and a catalytic amount of α, α′-azoisobutyronitrile in ...