Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling of Polyfluorinated Arenes with Heteroarenes via C–F/C–H Activation

The first palladium-catalyzed coupling of 2-pyridyl-polyfluoroarenes and benzoxazole, thiazole, benzothiazole, benzoimidazole, oxazole or oxadiazole via a concurrent C–F/C–H activation is described. Initial mechanistic studies showed that C–F activation of perfluoroarene is likely the rate-limiting step of the catalytic cycle. This protocol provides a useful and operationally simple process to functionalized polyfluoroarenes.