Toward the synthesis of the rare N-(trifluoromethyl)amides and the N-(difluoromethylene)-N-(trifluoromethyl)amines [RN(CF3)CF2R'] using BrF3.

A synthesis of a wide range of different aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic N-(trifluoromethyl)amides along with aromatic N-(difluoromethylene)-N-(trifluoromethyl)amine derivatives has been developed. The starting materials are the easily available isothiocyanates, and the fluorinating reagent is the commercially available bromine trifluoride. The reaction is performed under mild conditions, and the fluorinated amides and amines are produced in moderate to high yields.