Photomediated Hexafluoroisopropoxylation of Unactivated Aryl Halides.

The use of fluoroalkoxy groups, such as trifluoromethoxy and 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy groups, in pharmaceutical and agrochemical development has increased dramatically in recent years. However, hexafluoroisopropoxy groups have remained significantly under-represented, presumably due to limited synthetic methods for accessing this substituent in good yields. Herein, we report a mild, photochemical nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SAr) approach for the synthesis of hexafluoroisopropyl aryl ethers from unactivated and abundant aryl halides.