A Base-Promoted Reductive Coupling Platform for the Divergent Defluorofunctionalization of Trifluoromethylarenes
Shawn E Wright1, Jeffrey S Bandar1
1Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, United States.
Abstract:
We report a trifluoromethylarene reductive coupling method that dramatically expands the scope of difluorobenzylic substructures accessible via C-F bond functionalization. Catalytic quantities of a Lewis base, combined with a disilane reagent in formamide solvent, promotes the replacement of a single trifluoromethyl fluorine atom with a silylated hemiaminal functional group. The reaction proceeds through a difluorobenzyl silane intermediate that can also be isolated. Together, these defluorinated products are shown to provide rapid access to over 20 unique difluoroalkylarene scaffolds.
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