The cover picture shows an efficient and cost-effective method for the preparation of fluorinated conjugated enynes. The method was compatible with a variety of functional groups such as chloride, amine, cyano and ester group. The method could also be extended to the coupling of (R,Z)-3-(2-chloro-1,2-difluorovinyl)-4-alkyloxazolidin-2-one (3) with moderate yields. More details are discussed in the article by Shen et al. on page 901–907.

An effective and facile method for preparation of partially fluorinated aromatics via Nickel catalyzed, chelation-assisted ortho selective hydrodefluorination of polyfluoroarnes with triethylsilane has been developed, in which N-containing heterocycles were used as directing groups.

Highly stereoselective and one-pot synthesis of tetrasubstituted monofluoroalkenes with fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)methane (FBSM) as the fluoroolefination reagent has been developed. This protocol is amenable to the transformation of non-enolizable aldehydes with less sterically demanding substituents. For enolizable aldehydes and sterically hindered aromatic aldehydes, the reaction furnishes carbonyl addition products.

A highly selective method for the asymmetric formation of trifluoromethyl-substituted α- and β-aminophosphonates was described. The reaction proceeded with high yields and good to excellent diastereoselectivity. The product can be easily converted into corresponding trifluoromethyl-substituted aminophosphoric acids.

An efficient and cost-effective method for the preparation of fluorinated conjugated enynes was described. The method was compatible with a variety of functional groups such as chloride, amine, cyano and ester group. The method could also be extended to the coupling of (R,Z)-3-(2-chloro-1,2-difluorovinyl)-4-alkyloxazolidin-2-one (3) with moderate yields.

A palladium-catalyzed intramolecular oxidative fluorooxylation of styrenes has been developed by using NFSI as fluorinating reagent. This reaction provides an efficient way for the synthesis of 2-aryl-3-fluorotetrahydrofuran derivatives.

A convenient method for the trifluoromethylation of a variety of terminal alkynes with S-(trifluoromethyl)diarylsulfoniumtriflate in the presence of copper iodide was described. The reactions proceeded smoothly under mild condition to give the desired product in moderate to good yields.

A facile preparation of allylic trifluoromethyl thioethers was achieved by the reaction of (bpy)Cu(SCF₃) with allylic bromides. This protocol afforded the desired trifluoromethylthiolation products in good to excellent yields with high stereo- and regioselectivity. Important functional groups such as alkyl, alkoxy, trifluoromethyl, nitro, halides and geranyl are well tolerated.

CF bond activation of polyfluoroaryl imines is explored at cobalt(0) center with an imine-N atom as an anchoring group. It was also found that dialkylation of N-(perfluorobenzylidene)benzenamine with organozinc reagents could be catalyzed by Co(PMe₃)₄ via C,C-coupling reaction under mild conditions.

A new class of benzodioxocycloalkane-based (C₈–C₁₀) liquid crystals has been prepared. The impact of ring (C₈–C₁₀) as end group was investigated. The 8–9 membered ring derivatives, 3a–3b, exhibited the nematic phases (N). The mesomorphic behaviors were weakened with increasing the size of the ring. For the ?uorinated medium ring (C₈–C₁₀) 3d–3f, it was found only the fluorinated ten membered ring 3f showed the LC phases behaviours. Modification of the ring size with different length alkyl groups and variation of the alkyl to polyfluoroalkyl markedly influenced the properties of these compounds.

A new surfactant Cl(CF₂)₆O(CF₂)₂SO₃N(C₂H₅)₄ was prepared and its properties were measured. The fluorinated surfactant was applied to the fluoroalkylation of perfluoroalkyl iodides with olefins and alkynes. The reactions gave the corresponding adducts in water and avoided the use of organic solvent. The aqueous solution with the surfactant proved to be an effective medium for a radical process.

An efficient copper-mediated trifluoromethylation of substituted phthalic anhydrides using (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (Me₃SiCF₃) as a nucleophilic trifluoromethylating reagent in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline and KF, followed by quenching the reaction mixture with water has been developed. A possible mechanism was suggested.

Cyclization reaction of 2a with aryl imidoyl chlorides 5a–5i, derived from chlorination of aryl oximes with N-chlorosuccimide, afforded 2,6-dimethyl-3,5-bis[(3-aryl-5-trifluoromethyl)-isoxazol-4-carbonyl]-pyridine derivatives 6a–6i in the presence of base.