Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Dibenzylation of Trifluoromethylalkenes for CF3‑Containing All-Carbon Quaternary Center Construction

A Ni-catalyzed reductive dicarbofunctionalization of & alpha;-CF3 styrenes with benzyl bromides has been accomplished.Thistransformation obviates the commonly facile & beta;-F eliminationeffectively and enables the creation of CF3-substitutedall-carbon quaternary centers of pharmaceutical interests. Preliminarymechanistic studies suggest a pathway consisting of benzyl radicaladdition and subsequent nickel-mediated benzylation of the resulting & alpha;-CF3-embedded tertiary C radical.