An efficient, ligand-free palladium-catalyzed method for the cross coupling reaction of pentafluor-benzene with phenols was developed. This reaction proceeds via a highly selective C-F bond activation in the 3-position and is compatible with a variety of functional groups, delivering polyfluorinated aryl ethers in moderate to excellent yields. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Selective C4−F bond cleavage/C−O bond formation of polyfluoroarenes with phenols and benzyl alcohols
the synthesis of unsymmetrical polyfluoroaryl ethers via selective C4–F bond cleavage of pentafluorobenzene is reported. The reaction could proceed smoothly without the requirement of additional metals or ligands, and afford a series of the corresponding products in good to high yields. A wide variety of substituted phenols and alcohols provided 1,2,4,5-tetrafluoropheny ether derivatives in regioselective