Visible-Light-Induced Trifluoromethylation of Unactivated Alkenes with Tri(9-anthryl)borane as an Organophotocatalyst

Abstract

Tri(9-anthryl)borane was successfully applied as an organophotocatalyst for the visible-light-induced trifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes with CF₃I. The mild reaction conditions tolerated a variety of functional groups, and the reaction could be extended to perfluoroalkylations with C₃F₇I and C₄F₉I. Mechanistic studies revealed that the photoredox catalysis involves an oxidative quenching pathway.