Developments in the Alkynyltrifluoromethylations of Alkenes and Alkynes

Abstract As a consequence of the expanding relevance of fluorine-containing organic molecules in drug research, the synthesis of organofluorine scaffolds has high significance in synthetic organic chemistry. Trifluoromethylative difunctionalizations of carbon–carbon multiple bonds, with the simultaneous introduction of a CF3 group and another function, have considerable potential. Considering the high importance of carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions in organic synthesis, carbotrifluoromethylations and, in particular, alkynyltrifluoromethylations have increasing interest in synthetic chemistry. Alkynyltrifluoromethylation is a narrow area and a relatively new approach in synthetic chemistry­; however it has not been reviewed so far. Our goal in this short review is to summarize recent developments in alkynyltrifluoromethylation reactions by considering: (a) alkynyltrifluoromethylation reactions of alkenes, including reactions involving either intramolecular alkynyl migration or intermolecular transformation, and (b) alkynyltrifluoromethylation reactions of alkynes. 1 Introduction 2 Alkynyltrifluoromethylation Reactions of Alkenes 2.1 Reactions Involving Intramolecular Alkynyl Migration 2.2 Intermolecular Reactions 3 Alkynyltrifluoromethylation Reactions of Alkynes 4 Summary and Outlook