Recent Developments on the Trifluoromethylation of (Hetero)Arenes

Aryl‐CF3 as an extremely important family of fluorinated organic compounds holds wide applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. Traditionally, such trifluoromethylated compounds have been synthesized from the corresponding aryl trichlorides via Cl exchange reactions (Scheme 1). This Focus review gives an overview over the recent development of trifluoromethylation of (hetero)arenes. The road to trifluoromethylation is getting easier: Advances in the synthesis of trifluoromethylated arenes through electrophilic or nucleophilic strategies have been reviewed. Recent breakthroughs allow trifluoromethylation of (hetero)arenes under mild conditions and tolerance of a wide range of functionalities.