Organocatalytic enantioselective cross-aldol reaction of aryl ketones with heteroaromatic trifluoromethyl ketone hydrates for the synthesis of α-trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols.

An efficient organocatalytic enantioselective cross-aldol reaction of aryl ketones with heteroaromatic trifluoromethyl ketone hydrates enolate intermediates has been developed. The cross-aldol reactions catalyzed by Takemoto-type thiourea catalysts proceeded well under mild conditions, furnishing a variety of enantioenriched α-trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols bearing N-heteroaromatics with good to high yields and enantioselectivities. This protocol features broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and easy gram-scale preparation.

Catalyst-free C(sp)-H functionalization of methyl azaarenes with heteroaromatic trifluoromethyl ketone hydrates: "all-water" synthesis of α-trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols.

An efficient catalyst-free C(sp)-H bond functionalization of methyl azaarenes with heteroaromatic trifluoromethyl ketone hydrates in neat water has been developed for the synthesis of α-trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols bearing N-heteroaromatics. This method not only features excellent efficiency, broad substrate scope, catalyst-free conditions, and easy gram-scale preparation but also represents a new and rare example of "all-water" synthesis of trifluoromethylated molecules.