Iridium(iii)-catalyzed β-trifluoromethyl enone carbonyl-directed regioselective ortho-C(sp2)–H olefination

Abstract

Due to the lower LUMO energy level at the β-position of α,β-unsaturated-β-trifluoromethyl enone than that of its non-fluorinated counterpart, there is a challenge to activate the sp² C–H bond of aromatic rings. Herein, we have reported iridium(III)-catalyzed β-trifluoromethyl enone carbonyl-directed regioselective aromatic C(sp²)–H olefination with acrylates under oxidative conditions. Furthermore, coupling with natural product-derived acrylates, scale-up and product diversification have also been performed.