General Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Selenides Utilizing Selenocyanates and Fluoroform

Trifluoromethylated selenoethers are quite rare despite their potential and the interest that they generate. A series of trifluoromethylseleno derivatives, either primary and secondary aliphatic or aromatic and heterocyclic, is described herein by the reaction of easily prepared organic selenocyanates and CuCF3. Another beneficial feature of this reaction is the use of fluoroform as a source for the CF3 group, a compound whose chemistry is currently being intensively researched because it is a potent greenhouse gas that should not be released into the atmosphere.