Highly Site-Selective Formation of Perfluoroalkylated Anilids via a Protecting Strategy by Molybdenum Hexacarbonyl Catalyst

Introducing a perfluoroalkyl group on the aromatic ring with high site selectivity remains a challenging area in organofluorine chemistry. We herein report a highly para-selective C-H perfluoroalkylation of aniline substrates using the molybdenum hexacarbonyl catalyst. Various substituted anilids derived from anilids were well-tolerated, affording the corresponding products in moderate to good yields. Preliminary mechanism studies and density functional theory calculations revealed the coordination of Mo catalyst with amides as the key factor to realize para selectivity.