Enantioselective Desymmetrization of Trifluoromethylated Tertiary Benzhydrols via Hydrogen-Acceptor-Free Ir-Catalyzed Dehydrogenative C–H Silylation: Decisive Role of the Trifluoromethyl Group

Although the trifluoromethyl (CF3) group is one of the most important fluorinated groups owing to its significant ability to modulate pharmacological properties, constructing trifluoromethylated stereogenic centers in an enantioselective manner has been a formidable challenge. Herein, we report the development of the enantioselective desymmetrization of trifluoromethylated benzhydrols via intramolecular dehydrogenative silylation using Ir catalysts with chiral pyridine-oxazoline (PyOX) ligands. The produced benzoxasilol was transformed into several unsymmetrical benzhydrols via iododesilylation and subsequent transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Moreover, the same Ir catalyst system was used for the kinetic resolution of unsymmetrical trifluoromethylated benzhydrols.