Multicomponent reactions are fundamentally different from two-component reactions, as multicomponent reactions can enable the efficient and step-economical construction of complex molecular scaffolds from simple precursors. Here, an unprecedented threecomponent direct C−H addition was achieved in the challenging meta-selective fashion. Fluoroalkyl halides and a wide range of alkenes, including vinylarenes, unactivated alkenes, and internal alkenes, were employed as the coupling partners of arenes in this strategy. The detailed mechanism presented is supported by kinetic isotope studies, radical clock experiments, and density functional theory calculations. Moreover, this strategy provided access to various fluoride-containing bioactive 1,1diarylalkanes and other challenging synthetically potential products.

A Pd- and norbornene-catalyzed domino procedure has been developed to synthesize indoline compounds. This reaction provides efficient access to indolines by employing aryl iodides with aziridines as new electrophiles. The transformation is scalable and tolerates a range of functional groups.

This report describes a new method for three-component difluoroalkylation and trifluoromethylthiolation/trifluoromethylselenolation of π-bonds via air-stable SCF and SeCF reagents as free-radical initiators of ethyl iododifluoroacetate. β-Proton elimination can be overcome effectively in this reaction system, and a broad substrate scope, including alkenes and alkynes, makes this approach practical and attractive.