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Updated: Dec 1, 2025

Metal-free Synthesis of Ynones from Acyl Chlorides and Potassium Alkynyltrifluoroborate Salts
Published on: February 24, 2015
Metallaphotoredox Perfluoroalkylation of Organobromides
Xiangbo Zhao1, David W C MacMillan1
1Merck Center for Catalysis at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States.
Abstract:
Ruppert-Prakash type reagents (TMSCF3, TMSC2F5, and TMSC3F7) are readily available, air-stable, and easy-to-handle fluoroalkyl sources. Herein, we describe a mild, copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of these fluoroalkyl nucleophiles with aryl and alkyl bromides to produce a diverse array of trifluoromethyl, pentafluoroethyl, and heptafluoropropyl adducts. This light-mediated transformation proceeds via a silyl-radical-mediated halogen atom abstraction pathway, which enables perfluoroalkylation of a broad range of organobromides of variable steric and electronic demand. The utility of the method is demonstrated through the late-stage functionalization of several drug analogues.
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