Conversion of Aromatic Amino into Trifluoromethyl Groups through a Sandmeyer­-Type Transformation

A novel strategy for aromatic trifluoromethylation by converting amino into trifluoromethyl groups via a Sandmeyer-type reaction is reported. The transformation involves diazotization of the aromatic amines with tert-butyl nitrite and hydrochloric acid to form aryldiazonium chlorides, followed by trifluoromethylation with trifluoromethylsilver at low temperature. Various readily available aromatic amines are smoothly converted under mild conditions.