A route to fluoroalkyl-substituted aromatic compounds involving fluoroalkylcopper intermediates

Interaction of iodofluoroalkanes, iodoaromatic compounds and copper in polar aprotic solvents at 110–130° leads to good yields of (fluoroalkyl)aromatic compounds. The iodofluoroalkanes and iodoaromatic compounds can bear a wide variety of substituents (carboxyl, nitro, amino, hydroxyl, etc). The reactions proceed via fluoroalkylcopper compounds which are markedly more stable than their non-fluorinated analogues.