Pregeneration, spectroscopic detection and chemical reactivity of (trifluoromethyl)copper, an elusive and complex species

The preparation of HCF2CdX and HCF2ZnX via direct insertion into the carbon halogen bond of CF2HY (Y=Br, I)

“…In previous work with trifluoromethylcadmium [38], fluorinated vinyl cadmium reagents [39], perfluoroallyl cadmium reagents and fluorinated arylcadmium reagents [40,41,42] we have shown that fluorinated cadmium reagents readily exchange with Cu(I) halides to form (in situ) the analogous fluorinated copper reagent. A number of qualities make organocopper reagents attractive; these include (1) easy preparation, (2) good reactivity, (3) low toxicity, and (4) generally good regiospecificity when alternative sites of attack exist.…”

Decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of aryl halides using well-defined copper–trifluoroacetate and –chlorodifluoroacetate precursors

“…The catalytic trifluoromethylation of non-activated organic halides represents a long-standing goal in organometallic chemistry [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. The ability to introduce a trifluoromethyl group into a molecule of interest at a late stage of a synthesis using mild conditions alleviates the need to carry the fluorine functional group through potentially incompatible synthetic procedures, thereby eliminating potential side-reactions and raising overall yields.…”

The solid complex Zn(CF3)Br·2DMF as an alternative reagent for the preparation of both, trifluoromethyl and pentafluoroethyl copper, CuCF3 and CuC2F5

“…Kondratenko et al [4] generated trifluoromethylcopper using Hg(CF 3 ) 2 as a trifluoromethyl source by transmetallation to copper. Trifluoromethylcopper has also been prepared via in situ metathesis of trifluoromethylcadmium or -zinc reagents with copper(I) salts [5]. Trifluoromethylcadmium or -zinc species were synthesized by the reactions of difluorodihalomethanes with activated cadmium or zinc powder [6].…”