Highly Efficient C-SeCF3 Coupling of Aryl Iodides Enabled by an Air-Stable Dinuclear PdI Catalyst

Building on our recent disclosure of catalysis at dinuclear Pd-I sites, we herein report the application of this concept to the realization of the first catalytic method to convert aryl iodides into the corresponding ArSeCF3 compounds. Highly efficient C-SeCF3 coupling of a range of aryl iodides was achieved, enabled by an air-, moisture-, and thermally stable dinuclear Pd-I catalyst. The novel SeCF3-bridged dinuclear Pd-I complex 3 was isolated, studied for its catalytic competence and shown to be recoverable. Experimental and computational data are presented in support of dinuclear Pd-I catalysis.