Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Versatile CO2 Transformations into Complex Products: A One-pot Two-step Strategy
Published on: November 9, 2019
Strategic installation of the -CH2CF3 motif via transition-metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization
Sumit Garai1, Devarajulu Sureshkumar1
1Department of Chemical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India. suresh@iiserkol.ac.in.
Abstract:
Fluorinated alkyl groups play a crucial role in medicinal chemistry by modulating molecular conformation, metabolic stability, lipophilicity, and biological activity. Among these, the trifluoroethyl (-CH2CF3) group has emerged as a valuable motif due to its unique electronic properties and its presence in bioactive molecules and drug candidates. Conventional trifluoroethylation methods typically rely on pre-functionalized substrates, limiting step economy and synthetic efficiency. In contrast, transition-metal-catalyzed C-H functionalization offers a direct and atom-economical alternative for installing this group from simple precursors. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in C-H trifluoroethylation across C(sp), C(sp2), and C(sp3)-H bonds, with emphasis on catalyst design, site selectivity, mechanistic pathways, and synthetic scope, and discusses current challenges and future opportunities in this developing area.
More Related Videos
06:34Synthesis of Antiviral Tetrahydrocarbazole Derivatives by Photochemical and Acid-catalyzed C-H Functionalization via Intermediate Peroxides CHIPS
Published on: June 20, 2014
10:10Application of Elemental Lanthanides in the Selective C-F Activation of Trifluoromethylated Benzofulvenes Providing Access to Various Difluoroalkenes
Published on: July 28, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Acid-Catalyzed Hydration
Prochirality
[3,3] Sigmatropic Rearrangement of 1,5-Dienes: Cope Rearrangement
Radicals: Electronic Structure and Geometry
Accordingly, the structure of a trivalent radical lies between the geometries of carbocations and carbanions. An sp2-hybridized carbocation is trigonal planar, while an sp3-hybridized carbanion is trigonal pyramidal. Here, the difference in geometry is...
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.