Fluoride-mediated selective cross-coupling reactions of alkyl halides and trimethyl(perfluoroalkyl)silanes, Me3SiRf (Rf = CF3, C2F5) in the absence of any catalysts

A temperature range of −18 °C to room temperature was found to be effective for selective fluoride-mediated cross-coupling reactions of trimethyl(perfluoroalkyl)silanes, Me3SiCF3 and Me3SiC2F5, and alkyl halides, RX (X = Br, I) in the absence of any catalyst.

Graphical abstractCnH2n+1X1+Me3SiCF3+[Cat]F⟶−18 °C to r.t.DMECnH2n+1CF32+Me3SiF+[Cat]X, X=Br,I;   Cat=NMe4,S(NMe2)3,Cs(15-Crown-5)2;  CnH2n+1I1+Me3SiC2F5+[Cs(15-Crown-5)2]F⟶−18 °C to r.t.DMECnH2n+1C2F53+Me3SiF+[Cs(15-Crown-5)2]I.