Nickel-catalyzed direct C-H trifluoroethylation of heteroarenes with trifluoroethyl iodide

Chem Commun (Camb). 2017 Sep 14;53(74):10287-10290. doi: 10.1039/c7cc05532c.

Abstract

A highly selective nickel-catalyzed C-H trifluoroethylation of heteroarenes was developed with the assistance of a monodentate directing group. This protocol provides efficient access to various trifluoroethyl-substituted heteroarenes, including indoles, pyrroles, furans, and thiophenes, with commercially available CF3CH2I as an alkylation reagent. This robust catalytic procedure is scalable and tolerates a broad range of functional groups. Moreover, multifluoroalkylation of indoles is also viable.