Regioselective 1,4-trifluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones via a S-(trifluoromethyl)diphenylsulfonium salts/copper system

Abstract

Regioselective conjugate 1,4-trifluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated ketones by the use of shelf-stable electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagents, S-(trifluoromethyl)diphenylsulfonium salts and copper under mild conditions is described. A wide range of acyclic aryl–aryl–enones and aryl–alkyl–enones were converted into β-trifluoromethylated ketones in low to moderate yields.

Keywords

• 1,4-addition
• copper
• fluorine
• Michael addition
• organo-fluorine
• trifluoromethylation