Aryl−CF₃ Bond-Forming Reductive Elimination from Palladium(IV)

This communication describes oxidatively induced Ar-CF(3) bond-forming reductive elimination from new Pd(II) complexes of general structure (L approximately L)Pd(II)(Ar)(CF(3)). The electrophilic fluorinating reagent N-fluoro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium triflate promotes these reactions in good to excellent yields. The palladium(IV) intermediate ((t)Bu-bpy)Pd(IV)(CF(3))(F)(OTf)(C(6)H(4)F) has been isolated, characterized, and demonstrated to undergo high yielding Ar-CF(3) coupling upon thermolysis. This work provides an attractive conceptual framework for the development of Pd(II/IV)-catalyzed arene trifluoromethylation reactions.