Treatment of α,β-unsaturatedketones and fluoroalkyl halides with Et2Zn in the presence of RhCl(PPh3)3 gave novel reductive fluoroalkylation products at the α-position of α,β-unsaturatedketones in moderate to good yields. The rhodium hydride complex derived from Et2Zn and Rh catalyst seems to have played an important role in this reaction.
Treatment of alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones with CF(3)I in the presence of Et(2)Zn and RhCl(PPh(3))(3) gave novel alpha-trifluoromethylation products in good yields. Hydrogen transfer from the ethyl group on the rhodium complex to the beta-position of the enone seems to play an important role in this reaction.