Nickel-Catalyzed Formation of Fluorine-Containing Ketones via the Selective Cross-Trimerization Reaction of Tetrafluoroethylene, Ethylene, and Aldehydes

In the presence of
a catalytic amount of Ni­(cod)2 and
IPr (1,3-bis­(2,6-diiso­propyl­phenyl)­imidazol-2-ylidene),
a cross-trimerization reaction of tetra­fluoro­ethylene
(TFE), ethylene, and aldehydes proceeded in a selective manner to
afford a variety of 4,4,5,5-tetrafluoro-1-pentanone derivatives in
good to excellent yields. The present system involves a five-membered
nickelacycle key intermediate generated via the oxidative cyclization
of TFE and ethylene.