Trifluoromethylation of aromatic compounds with sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate under oxidative conditions.

Abstract Radical trifluoromethylation occurs without Cu(II) but cations are involved with Cu(II). Electron-rich aromatic compounds are triluforomethylated with sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate and t-butyl hydroperoxide. Monotrifluoromethylation predominates in the presence of catalytic amounts of Cu(II) triflate whereas mono- and bis-trifluoromethylated aromatics are obtained in almost equal quantities in the absence of Cu(II).