"Functionalization of Organic Compounds Using Simple Nickel Perfluoroalkyl Complexes"
Fluorinated organic compounds play an important role in pharmaceuticals and agriculture because fluorine can enhance the stability and biological performance of molecules. Despite their value, many existing fluorination methods depend on costly metals, complex ligands, or harsh reaction conditions. This research aims to develop simpler and more sustainable approaches to fluorination using nickel, an Earth-abundant and inexpensive transition metal. Nickel perfluoroalkyl complexes bearing CF 3 groups were employed as versatile reagents for introducing fluorinated functionalities into organic molecules under mild conditions. These studies led to the synthesis of rare high-valent nickel intermediates that enable carbon–carbon and carbon–sulfur bond formation. A straightforward “mix-and-stir” method was developed to produce aromatic compounds containing SCF 3 moieties, eliminating the need for synthesizing specialized fluorinated reagents. These metal-mediated transformations represent promising strategies that are worthy of consideration in new methods development.