What a wonderful and still challenging reaction, the trifluoromethylation of (Het)Ar-X !! MacMillan and co-workers extend the toolbox by offering a new way to perform such a transformation. The method relies on copper & photo-catalysis and the use of common Ruppert−Prakash type nucleophiles (TMSCF3 or perfluoroalkyl analogs). This reaction circumvents the need for substrates to undergo challenging Cu-mediated oxidative additions by employing a silyl radical-mediated halogen abstraction-radical capture (HARC) pathway.
Definitively a nice manner to incorporate -CF3, -CF2CF3 or even C3F7 moieties in our bioactive molecules.