Base-promoted direct and highly selective alkynylation of electron-deficient octafluorotoluene

Abstract

A strategy for direct alkynylation of electron-deficient octafluorotoluene via selective C–F bond cleavage is exhibited. The synthesized products are super intermediates for further transformations. Additionally, we give a preliminary explanation of the mechanism for the reaction of terminal alkynes with octafluorotoluene using density functional theory (DFT).