Silver-catalyzed formal insertion of arynes into Rf-I bonds.

An unprecedented silver-catalyzed formal insertion of arynes into Rf-I (Rf = CF3, C2F5) bonds has been developed. This protocol provides easy access to various ortho-perfluoroalkyl iodoarenes under mild conditions. In this insertion reaction, an ionic atom-transfer reaction of RfI occurs, and a silver-mediated metathesis process is involved in the efficient transfer of the electropositive iodine atom.