The oxidative hydrolysis of different trifluoroacetyl-protected N-(2-chloroallyl)anilines, promoted by calcium hypochlorite, is able to yield several not previously described α-arylamino-α′-chloropropan-2-ones, very valuable building blocks that are useful as precursors of several drugs, in excellent yields and short reaction times. The main requirement of the reaction for avoiding the undesired aromatic