Copper-Catalyzed Aromatic Trifluoromethylation via Group Transfer from Fluoral Derivatives

Starting from a readily available fluoral derivative, catalytic aromatic trifluoromethylation has been successfully achieved. A small amount of copper(I) iodide-phenanthroline complex catalyzed the cross-coupling reactions of aryl/heteroaryl iodides with the O-silylated hemiaminal of fluoral (trifluoroacetaldehyde) to provide trifluoromethylated arenes in moderate to high yields.