Heterogeneous platinum-catalyzed C-H perfluoroalkylation of arenes and heteroarenes.

Fluorinated organic compounds are gaining increasing interest for life science applications. The replacement of hydrogen in arenes or heteroarenes by a perfluoroalkyl group has a profound influence on the physical and biological properties of such building blocks. Here, an operationally simple protocol for the direct C-H perfluoroalkylation of (hetero)arenes with R(f)I or R(f)Br has been developed, using a robust supported platinum catalyst. The ready availability of the starting materials, the excellent substrate tolerance, and the reusability of the catalyst make this method attractive for the synthesis of a variety of perfluoroalkyl-substituted aromatic compounds. Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed the formation of radicals to be crucial in the reaction system.