Palladium-catalyzed coupling of polyfluorinated arenes with heteroarenes via C-F/C-H activation.

The first palladium-catalyzed coupling of 2-pyridyl-polyfluoroarenes and benzoxazole, thiazole, benzothiazole, benzoimidazole, oxazole or oxadiazole via a concurrent C-F/C-H activation is described. Initial mechanistic studies showed that C-F activation of perfluoroarene is likely the rate-limiting step of the catalytic cycle. This protocol provides a useful and operationally simple process to functionalized polyfluoroarenes.