N -Phenylhydroxylamine-Induced Radical Relay for the Synthesis of α-Trifluoromethyl Ketones

Abstract

Herein, we report a previously unexplored N-phenylhydroxylamine-induced radical relay strategy for the synthesis of α-trifluoromethyl ketones from readily available alkynes and Togni’s reagent. This protocol features a broad substrate scope, high functional group tolerance, operational simplicity, and scalability. Mechanistic studies reveal that N-phenylhydroxylamine plays a key role in facilitating the radical relay process. Furthermore, the late-stage functionalization of biologically relevant molecules highlights the synthetic utility of this method for the preparation of structurally diverse α-CF3 ketones.