Unprecedented copper(I) bifluoride complexes: synthesis, characterization and reactivity.

To be or not to bifluoride: Two synthetic pathways to unprecedented N-heterocyclic carbene copper(I) bifluoride complexes have been developed. Catalytic tests demonstrated that copper(I) bifluorides are very efficient catalysts, which do not require any additional activating agent. The first Cu-catalyzed diastereoselective allylation of (R)-N-tert-butanesulfinyl aldimines was also established. The method enables efficient, simple and general synthesis of enantiomerically enriched homoallylic amines at room temperature in high yields.