CF₃‐Containing <i>para</i>‐Quinone Methides for Organic Synthesis

Abstract

A new family of CF₃-containing <i>para</i>-quinone methides (CF₃-QMs) was systematically investigated for its suitability in organic synthesis. Addition of different nucleophiles gives access to target molecules with a benzylic CF₃-containing stereogenic center straightforwardly. The electrophilicity parameter <i>E</i> of the prototypical CF₃-QM 2,6-di-<i>tert</i>-butyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one was determined to be -11.68 according to the Mayr scale, making it one of the most reactive quinone methides known so far.