Copper-Catalyzed 1,2-Trifluoromethylation Carbonylation of Unactivated Alkenes: Efficient Access to β-Trifluoromethylated Aliphatic Carboxylic Acid Derivatives.

A novel copper-catalyzed carbonylative trifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes has been developed. A broad range of β-trifluoromethylated carboxylic acid derivatives were prepared in moderate to excellent yields from simple alkenes with excellent regioselectivity. It is noteworthy that ethylene gas, as the simplest olefin, can also be applied directly to obtain β-trifluoromethylated amides and ester. This transformation presents the first example on carbonylative trifluoromethylation of alkenes.