Copper-Mediated Aerobic Fluoroalkylation of Arylboronic Acids with Fluoroalkyl Iodides at Room Temperature

A Cu-mediated ligandless aerobic fluoro­alkylation of arylboronic acids under mild conditions is described for the first time. The reaction tolerates a wide range of functional groups, allowing for further transformation. Mechanistic studies suggest that [R_fCu] is the active Cu species that forms the desired perfluoroalkylarenes and that [R_fCu] is generated from [PhCu] by either an oxidative addition/reductive elimination mechanism or nucleophilic substitution via a halogen “ate” intermediate.