The treatment of phenyl chloroformates 1 with a Lewis acid in the liquid phase resulted in decarboxylation to the corresponding chloroaromatics 2. Fluoroaromatic compounds were synthesized from phenylchloroformates 1 through a sequential fluorination/decarboxylation in the liquid phase by treatment with excess anhydrous hydrogen fluoride under mild conditions. In all cases, yields were increased by performing the reaction in 1, 2, 4- ...