Copper-catalyzed intermolecular cyanotrifluoromethylation of alkenes: Convenient synthesis of CF3-containing alkyl nitriles

A copper-catalyzed intermolecular cyanotrifluoromethylation of alkenes has been developed, in which the less reactive Togni reagent 2 was used as a CF3 source and TMSCN was employed as a cyano source. Both activated and unactivated alkenes were suitable for this transformation to give CF3-containing organonitriles under mild conditions. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.