AN EFFICIENT AND EXPEDITIOUS SYNTHESIS OF FUNCTIONALIZED TRIFLUOROMETHYL KETONES THROUGH LITHIUM-IODINE EXCHANGE-REACTION

A straightforward and very efficient synthesis of unsaturated long-cha in trifluoromethyl ketones is achieved by metallation of the correspon ding iodides in the presence of an equimolar amount of tert-butyllithi um, followed by reaction with a fluoroacylating agent. Metallation occ urs quantitatively at -78 degrees C and, in contrast to what has been generally recommended, there is no need to add the second equivalent o f base, since its presence may be detrimental if other electrophilic f unctions are present in the molecule.