A new class of substrates for nucleophilic 5-endo-trig cyclization, 2-trifluoromethyl-1-alkenes: synthesis of five-membered hetero- and carbocycles that bear fluorinated one-carbon units.

Disfavored 5-endo-trig cyclizations were achieved in 2-trifluoromethyl-1-alkenes with a nucleophilic nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or carbon atom through 1) intramolecular S(N)2' reaction with loss of a fluoride ion or 2) intramolecular nucleophilic addition to the vinylic group. This reaction manifold provides a versatile method for the synthesis of indolines, indoles, pyrrolidines, tetrahydrofurans, 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]thiophenes, tetrahydrothiophenes, and cyclopentanes that bear a fluorinated one-carbon unit such as a difluoromethylene, difluoromethyl, or trifluoromethyl group.