Copper-catalyzed oxidative trifluoromethylation of benzylic sp3 C–H bond adjacent to nitrogen in amines

Copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation via oxidative sp3 C–H activation at the α-position of nitrogen in tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives using DDQ and Ruppert–Prakash reagent has been successfully achieved. The reaction of various amines gave the corresponding trifluoromethylated products in 15–90% yields under mild conditions.