The palladium-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of vinyl sulfonates.

A method for the palladium-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of cyclohexenyl sulfonates has been developed. Various cyclohexenyl triflates and nonaflates underwent trifluoromethylation under mild reaction conditions using a catalyst system composed of Pd(dba)(2) or [(allyl)PdCl](2) and the monodentate biaryl phosphine ligand (t)BuXPhos. The trifluoromethyl anion (CF(3)(-)) or its equivalent for the process was generated in situ from TMSCF(3) in combination with KF or TESCF(3) in combination with RbF.