Development of (Trifluoromethyl)zinc Reagent as Trifluoromethyl Anion and Difluorocarbene Sources

The trifluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds is accomplished by the stable (trifluoromethyl)zinc reagent generated and then isolated from CF3I and ZnEt2, which can be utilized as a trifluoromethyl anion source (CF3(-)). The reaction proceeds smoothly with diamine as a ligand and ammonium salt as an initiator, providing the corresponding trifluoromethylated alcohol products. Moreover, the (trifluoromethyl)zinc reagent can also be employed as a difluorocarbene source (:CF2) not only for gem-difluoroolefination of carbonyl compounds with phosphine but also for gem-difluorocyclization of alkenes or alkynes via the thermal decomposition, respectively.