Transformation of Trifluorotoluenes Triggered by Titanium(IV) Chloride-Catalyzed Hydrodefluorination using Hydrosilanes

The titanium tetrachloride-catalyzed hydrodefluorination reaction of trifluorotoluene derivatives was developed using triethylsilane as the reducing agent. The reaction produced various toluene derivatives with high chemoselectivities by means of readily accessible reagents. This hydrodefluorination process was extended to the intramolecular Friedel-Crafts benzylation reaction, furnishing polycyclic aromatics of various ring sizes in good yields.