Issue 19, 2025

O-Trifluoromethylation of ketones: an alternative straightforward route to alkenyl trifluoromethyl ethers

Abstract

Here we report an unprecedented O-trifluoromethylation of ketones using chloro(phenyl)trifluoromethyl-λ3-iodane (CPTFI). Our method provides a new strategy for the facile synthesis of various synthetically valuable alkenyl trifluoromethyl ethers, particularly those CF3O-substituted terminal alkenes and cyclic alkenes that have been elusive until now, from simple aromatic, aliphatic, and cyclic ketones. The success of this reaction is attributed to the full utilization of the multifunctionality of CPTFI: (1) its strong Lewis acid activation ability, which enables weak nucleophiles such as Cl anions to attack the carbonyl group; (2) its bifunctionality, which allows for the introduction of CF3 and Cl into the carbonyl group in one step, thus enabling the obtainment of alkenyl trifluoromethyl ethers by further removal of HCl. The further transformation in the synthesis of CF3O-cyclopropanes, which were previously largely unexplored, reveals the significant potential of alkenyl trifluoromethyl ethers as valuable CF3O-containing building blocks in the discovery of innovative materials, pharmaceuticals, and agrochemicals.

Graphical abstract: O-Trifluoromethylation of ketones: an alternative straightforward route to alkenyl trifluoromethyl ethers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
11 Feb 2025
Accepted
09 Apr 2025
First published
09 Apr 2025
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2025,16, 8561-8568

O-Trifluoromethylation of ketones: an alternative straightforward route to alkenyl trifluoromethyl ethers

C. Gao, Y. Liu, C. Li, H. Guo, S. Wang, C. Xu and M. Wang, Chem. Sci., 2025, 16, 8561 DOI: 10.1039/D5SC01073J

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