N -Trifluoropropylation of Azoles through N -Vinylation and Sequential Hydrogenation.

Installing a fluoroalkyl group onto the nitrogen atom of azoles represents a potential strategy for lead optimization in medicinal chemistry. Herein, we describe a method for the N -trifluoropropylation of azoles. This process is accomplished using a combination of regioselective N -vinylation and sequential hydrogenation. The two-step sequence is applicable to a diverse set of azoles and tolerates a wide range of functionalities. In addition, we showcase its practicability and utility through the gram-scale synthesis and the late-stage modification of a complex molecule.