Copper-Catalyzed Regioselective Olefination and Trifluoromethylation of Carboxylic Acids To Give ()-Trifluoromethyl Enol Esters.

Herein, we describe a method to produce ()-trifluoromethyl enol esters via the olefination and trifluoromethylation of carboxylic acids with TMSCF. This synthetic method uses inexpensive and easy-to-handle TMSCF. It employs a commercially available CuCl catalyst to transform a broad range of carboxylic acids into versatile ()-trifluoromethyl enol esters with good regio- and stereoselectivity. This protocol allows the concise synthesis of highly functionalized ()-trifluoromethyl enol esters directly from carboxylic acids.