Protolytic defluorination of trifluoromethyl-substituted arenes

A series of trifluoromethyl-substituted arenes were studied in their reactions with Brønsted superacids. The products from these reactions suggest the formation of reactive electrophiles, such as carbocations, acylium cations or equivalent electrophilic species. As such, Friedel–Crafts-type reactions occur between these species and arene nucleophiles. NMR studies were done, and the results suggest the formation of an acyl group from the trifluoromethyl groups in the superacid.