Generation of trifluoromethylcopper from chlorodifluoroacetate

In the presence of fluoride ion, methyl chlorodifluoroacetate undergoes halide ion-promoteddecarboxylation to give trifluoromethide which can be trapped with cuprous iodide. Theresulting trifluoromethyl copper reagent has been observed spectroscopically and can betrapped with aryl iodides to give the corresponding trifluoromethylaromatic compound.