Selective Mono‐Defluorinative Cross‐Coupling of Trifluoromethyl arenes via Multiphoton Photoredox Catalysis
Jiaqi Jia, Serik Zhumagazy, Chen Zhu, Shao‐Chi Lee, Salman Alsharif, Huifeng Yue, Magnus Rueping
Abstract
A new cross-coupling of trifluoromethyl arenes has been realized via multiphoton photoredox catalysis. Trifluoromethyl arenes were demonstrated to undergo selective mono-defluorinative alkylation under mild reaction conditions providing access to a series of valuable α,α-difluorobenzylic compounds. The reaction shows broad substrate scope and general functional group tolerance. In addition to the electron-deficient trifluoromethyl arenes that are easily reduced to the corresponding radical anion, more challenging electron-rich substrates were also successfully applied. Steady-State Stern-Volmer quenching studies indicated that the trifluoromethyl arenes were reduced by the multiphoton excited Ir-based photocatalyst.