NHC-Catalyzed Radical Trifluoromethylation Enabled by Togni Reagent

Org Lett. 2020 Jan 17;22(2):443-447. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b04203. Epub 2020 Jan 6.

Abstract

An unprecedented carbene-catalyzed radical trifluoromethylation of olefins with aldehydes in the presence of Togni reagent was developed, thus providing the β-trifluoromethyl-α-substituted ketones with a broad scope and moderate to high chemical yields. Notably, this process includes a single-electron-transfer process and utilizes the persistent N-heterocyclic-carbene-bound radical as a key intermediate to trigger the cascade radical cross-coupling.