Mechanistic and Computational Studies of Oxidatively-Induced Aryl−CF3 Bond-Formation at Pd: Rational Design of Room Temperature Aryl Trifluoromethylation

This article describes the rational design of first generation systems for oxidatively induced Aryl−CF3 bond-forming reductive elimination from PdII. Treatment of (dtbpy)PdII(Aryl)(CF3) (dtbpy = di-tert-butylbipyridine) with NFTPT (N-fluoro-1,3,5-trimethylpyridinium triflate) afforded the isolable PdIV intermediate (dtbpy)PdIV(Aryl)(CF3)(F)(OTf). Thermolysis of this complex at 80 °C resulted in Aryl−CF3 bond-formation. Detailed experimental and computational mechanistic studies have been conducted to gain insights into the key reductive elimination step. Reductive elimination from this PdIV species proceeds via pre-equilibrium dissociation of TfO− followed by Aryl−CF3 coupling. DFT calculations reveal that the transition state for Aryl−CF3 bond formation involves the CF3 acting as an electrophile with the Aryl ligand serving as a nucleophilic coupling partner. These mechanistic considerations along with DFT calculations have facilitated the design of a second generation system utilizing the tmeda (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethylenediamine) ligand in place of dtbpy. The tmeda complexes undergo oxidative trifluoromethylation at room temperature.