Bi(CF3)3/Cu(OCOCH3)2 — a new system for the synthesis of 2-trifluoromethylcycloalkan-1-ones, trifluoromethylanilines and phenyl(trifluoromethyl)sulfane

Bi(CF3)3 reacts in the presence of equimolar amounts of Cu(OCOCH3)2 and 1-morpholinocyclopentene to give 1-morpholino-2-trifluoromethylcyclopentene in 83% yield. This compound as well as intermediately formed 1-morpholino-2-trifluoromethylcyclohexene can easily be converted into the corresponding cycloketones (78 and 41% yield) using the Swarts procedure. In absence of a copper(II) source, no reactions were observed. action of the system Bi(CF3)3/Cu(OCOCH3)2 with N,N-diethylaniline gave an 1.7: 1 isomer mixture of 2-trifluoromethyl and 4-trifluormethyl-N,N-diethylanilines in 48% yield. etrabutylammonium thiophenolate, mixtures of phenyl(trifluoromethyl)sulfane and diphenyldisulfane were obtained. Mechanisms are discussed.