Mechanistic study of multi-step nucleophilic substitution for trifluoromethylated styrenes

The key steps of the reactions of nitrogen nucleophiles with β-halogen-β-trifluoromethylstyrenes have been studied by 19F and 1H NMR monitoring and quantum-chemical calculations. In contrast to the mechanism proposed earlier for nucleophilic vinylic substitution of captodative carbonyl-bearing haloalkenes, this reaction proceeds via either E–Ad or Ad–E sequence depending on the nature of aromatic substituents of the parent styrenes.