Urea-Catalyzed Functionalization of Unactivated C–H Bonds

Herein we report the 3,5bistrifluoromethylphenyl urea-catalyzed functionalization of unactivated C–H bonds. In this system, the urea catalyst mediates the formation of high-energy vinyl carbocations that undergo facile C–H insertion and Friedel–Crafts reactions. We introduce a new paradigm for these privileged scaffolds where the combination of hydrogen bonding motifs and strong bases affords highly active Lewis acid catalysts capable of ionizing strong C–O bonds. Despite the highly Lewis acidic nature of these catalysts that enables triflate abstraction from sp² carbons, these newly found reaction conditions allow for the formation of heterocycles and tolerate highly Lewis basic heteroaromatic substrates. This strategy showcases the potential utility of dicoordinated vinyl carbocations in organic synthesis.