Several N-heterocyclic carbene palladium catalyzed oxidation of nonactivated sp3 C–Hbonds in linear primary and secondary trifluoroacetic acid esters have been developed. A high selectivity for the oxidation of the omega-1 carbon atom in trifluoroacetic acid n-propyl to n-octyl esters was realized by an appropriate choice of N-heterocyclic carbene palladium complexes.