Copper-Catalyzed Aldol Reaction of Vinyl Azides with Trifluoromethyl Ketones

A novel and efficient aldol reaction of readily available vinyl azides with trifluoromethyl ketones by copper catalysis is developed. The reaction is proposed to go through a nucleophilic trapping of vinyl azides with trifluoromethyl ketones as a trifluoromethyl source, leading to the assembly of diverse trifluoromethylated compounds under mild conditions in satisfactory yield.