Azidoperfluoroalkanes: Synthesis and Application in Copper(I)-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition.

We report an efficient and scalable synthesis of azidotrifluoromethane (CF3 N3 ) and longer perfluorocarbon-chain analogues (RF N3 ; RF =C2 F5 , n C3 F7 , n C8 F17 ), which enables the direct insertion of CF3 and perfluoroalkyl groups into triazole ring systems. The azidoperfluoroalkanes show good reactivity with terminal alkynes in copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), giving access to rare and stable N-perfluoroalkyl triazoles. Azidoperfluoroalkanes are thermally stable and the efficiency of their preparation should be attractive for discovery programs.