Benzylic C-H trifluoromethylation of phenol derivatives.

Phenol derivatives were trifluoromethylated using copper/Togni reagent. In dimethylformamide, the benzylic C-H bond at the para position of the hydroxyl group was selectively substituted with a CF3 group. In contrast, aromatic C-H trifluoromethylation occurred in alcoholic solvents. Practical utility of the reactions was demonstrated by application to the synthesis of a potent enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (FabI) inhibitor.