Borazine-CF3- Adducts for Rapid, Room Temperature, and Broad Scope Trifluoromethylation

A fluoroform-derived borazine CF3- transfer reagent is used to effect rapid nucleophilic reactions in the absence of additives, within minutes at 25 degrees C. Inorganic electrophiles spanning seven groups of the periodic table can be trifluoromethylated in high yield, including transition metals used for catalytic trifluoromethylation. Organic electrophiles included (hetero)arenes, enabling C-H and C-X trifluoromethylation reactions. Mechanistic analysis supports a dissociative mechanism for CF3- transfer, and cation modification afforded a reagent with enhanced stability.