Unexpected high regiocontrol in Heck reaction of fluorine-containing electron-deficient olefins—Highly regio- and stereoselective synthesis of β-fluoroalkyl-α-aryl-α,β-unsaturated ketones

Treatment of (E)-4,4,4-trifluoro-1-aryl-2-buten-1-one with various aryldiazonium salts in the presence of palladium catalyst gave the corresponding α-arylated Heck adducts with high regio- and stereoselectivity in good to high yields.