CuCN and Trimethylsilyl Chloride‐Catalyzed Regiospecific Grignard Reactions to CF3‐Containing Allylic Derivatives

Abstract

AbstractCF3‐containing allylic alcohol derivatives were treated with an appropriate Grignard reagent in the presence of catalytic amounts of CuCN and trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl) to furnish products via the clean anti‐SN2′ mechanism. Experimental results as well as ab initio computational analyses unambiguously demonstrated the important roles of TMSCl as a Lewis basic additive for smooth promotion of reductive elimination and inhibition of the “Cu···F” elimination leading to undesired byproduct formation.