Preparation of Trifluoromethyl and Other Perfluoroalkyl Compounds with (Perfluoroalkyl)trimethylsilanes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00003a017

The preparation of a variety of novel perfluoroalkyl-substituted compounds in high yields using easily prepared (perfluoroalkyl)trimethylsilanes (1a - c) is described. (Trifluoromethyl)-, (pentafluoroethyl)-, and (heptafluoropropyl)trimethylsilane, 1a - c, respectively, react readily with carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes and ketones, by a fluoride-initiated catalytic process.Fluoride-initiated addition of 1 to a carbonyl group generates an oxyanionic species which then further catalyzes the reaction.Even enolizable carbonyl compounds react cleanly under the reaction conditions.A study of the scope of the reactivity of 1a toward other carbonyl groups in esters, lactones and an acid chloride was also carried out.Thus 1a reacts cleanly with five- and six-membered ring lactones.However, unactivated esters do not react under the reaction conditions.The acid chloride reacts with 1a to give a mixture of products.