A scalable process for a pilot plant synthesis of methyl 2-bromo-6-chlorobenzoate (1) is described. The strategy employed for the synthesis hinged on the esterification of the sterically encumbered parent acid produced through an o-lithiation/carboxylation approach. Vigilant temperature control was paramount for the success of this synthetic pathway. Initiation of an exothermic benzyne decomposition pathway during the o-lithiation step ...