Copper(I)-Mediated Borofluorination of Alkynes

Abstract

The electrophilic fluorination of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) copper(I) vinyls results in fluoroalkene formation. Alkynes can be converted to cis-(β-fluorovinyl)boronates by a reaction with an (NHC)copper(I) boryl generated in situ, followed by N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI). This sequence gives rise to anti-Markovnikov fluorination products from terminal alkynes. Oxidation of a cis-(β-fluorovinyl)trifluoroboronate yields an α-fluoroketone, whereas a palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling yields a tetrasubstituted monofluoroalkene.