Process for making certain benzoic acid compounds

The subject invention involves processes for making 2,4-difluoro-3-Q1-benzoic acid, wherein Q1 is derived from an electrophilic reagent, comprising the steps of: (a) treating 1-bromo-2,4-difluorobenzene with a strong, non-nucleophilic base; then treating with an electrophilic reagent which provides Q1, or a functional moiety which is then transformed to Q1, producing 1-bromo-2,4-difluoro-3-Q1-benzene; (b) treating the 1-bromo-2,4-difluoro-3-Q1-benzene with an alkali or alkaline earth metal or organometallic reagent; then treating with carbon dioxide, or with a formylating agent followed by oxidation, to produce 2,4-difluoro-3-Q1-benzoic acid.The subject invention also involves optional additional steps to further modify Q1, or to substitute a non-hydrogen moiety at the 5-position, at the 6-position, or at both, of the phenyl ring of the 2,4-difluoro-3-Q1-benzoic acid.