2023, Wang, Yaxin, Cao, Zehui, He, Qin, Huang, Xin, Liu, Jiaxi, Neumann, Helfried, Chen, Gong, Beller, Matthias

A simple, efficient, and convenient activation of perfluoroalkyl iodides by tBuONa or KOH, without expensive photo- or transition metal catalysts, allows the promotion of versatile a-sp3 C-H amidation reactions of alkyl ethers and benzylic hydrocarbons, C-H iodination of heteroaryl compounds, and perfluoroalkylations of electron-rich p bonds. Mechanistic studies show that these novel protocols are based on the halogen bond interaction between perfluoroalkyl iodides and tBuONa or KOH, which promote homolysis of perfluoroalkyl iodides under mild conditions.