Nucleophilic strategies to construct -CF2- linkages using borazine-CF2Ar reagents.

Using a Lewis acid-quenched CF2Ph- reagent, we show C-C bond formation through nucleophilic addition reactions to prepare molecules containing internal -CF2- linkages. We demonstrate C(sp2)-C(sp3) coupling using both SNAr reactions and Pd-catalysis. Finally, C(sp3)-C(sp3) bonds are forged using operationally simple SN2 reactions that tolerate medicinally-relevant motifs.