Synthesis of trifluoromethylated compounds from alcohols via alkoxydiphenylphosphines

The transformation of hydroxyl group in benzyl or allyl alcohols to trifluoromethyl was achieved via the reaction of the corresponding alkyloxydiphenylphosphine and CuCF3, generated in situ from methyl fluorosulfonyldifluoroacetate and CuI, under mild conditions. A plausible mechanism was proposed on the basis of experimental results.