A novel synthetic approach to fluorine-containing acetylenic compounds based on Nicholas reaction

The fluorine-containing dicobalthexacarbonyl complex, prepared readily from γ-fluoroalkylated propargyl acetates and Co2(CO)8, reacted smoothly with various nucleophiles at the propargylic position, followed by oxidative decomplexation under the influence of Fe(NO3)3, to afford fluoroalkylated alkynes bearing various types of alkyl side chains in good to high yields.