Trifluoromethyl-substituted benzoic anhydrides as structural congeners of 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) were prepared and investigated for comparative reactivity in the synthesis of carboxylic esters and macrolactones. 2-Fluoro-6-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic anhydride (FTFBA) was found to be a promising dehydrating agent in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP), and was successfully employed in the synthesis of threo-aleuritic acid lactone in good yield with high chemoselectivity.