Highly selective trifluoromethylation of 1,3-disubstituted arenes through iridium-catalyzed arene borylation.

The old one two: A sequential iridium-catalyzed borylation and copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of arenes is described (see scheme; Pin = pinacol). The reaction is conducted under mild reaction conditions and tolerates a variety of functional groups. The advantages of this tandem procedure are demonstrated by the late-stage trifluoromethylation of a number of biologically active molecules.