Zn-mediated rhodium-catalyzed α-trifluoromethylation of ketones via silyl enol ethers

The treatment of silyl enol ethers of ketones with CF3-I and Et2Zn in the presence of RhCl(PPh3)3 in DME gave α-trifluoromethyl ketones in good yields. The reaction can be widely applicable to silyl enol ethers derived from aliphatic or aromatic ketones. In the absence of the rhodium catalyst, the reaction was very slow and the yields were quite poor.