Radical Trifluoroacetylation of Alkenes Triggered by a Visible-Light-Promoted C−O Bond Fragmentation of Trifluoroacetic Anhydride

Trifluoromethyl ketones are not only found in drug like substances, but are also considered as key synthons for the preparation of various fluorinated heterocyclic molecules. Access to such trifluoromethyl ketone derivatives typically requires the incorporation of the trifluoromethyl group, or a surrogate moiety, at the beginning of a multi-step synthetic sequence. However, direct trifluoroacylation of alkenes could potentially provide a highly efficient and straightforward method for the synthesis of a,b-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones. Here we report a mild and operationally simple trifluoroacylation strategy of olefines, that utilizes trifluoroacetic anhydride as a low-cost and readily available reagent. This light-mediated process is fundamentally different from conventional methodologies and occurs through an trifluoroacyl radical mechanism promoted by a photocatalyst. Beyond simple alkenes, this method allows for chemo- and regioselective functionalization of small-molecule drugs and common pharmacophores.