The synthesis consists of three steps. In the first step, 2-iodobenzoic acid is oxidized by sodium periodate and cyclized to 1-hydroxy-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one. The target compound can then be obtained by acylation with acetic anhydride and subsequent substitution reaction with trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane.
Alternatively, trichloroisocyanuric acid can be used as oxidant in the place of sodium periodate for a newer one-pot synthesis method.