Nickel-Catalyzed 1,2-Trifluoromethylation Carbonylation of Alkenes: Access to β-Trifluoromethylated Alkyl Aryl Ketones.

A general and straightforward nickel-catalyzed 1,2-trifluoromethylation carbonylation of alkenes has been developed. By using formic acid as a convenient CO surrogate, along with readily available trifluoroiodomethane, alkenes and arylboronic acids as the starting materials, a variety of β-trifluoromethylated alkyl aryl ketones have been obtained in moderate to high yields with good tolerance of functional groups. This procedure is characterized by mild reaction conditions and good regioselectivity. Notably, the catalytic system performs effectively with both electron-deficient and unactivated aliphatic alkenes, highlighting its practical utility in complex molecule synthesis.