Fluorinated Vinylsilanes from the Copper‐Catalyzed Defluorosilylation of Fluoroalkene Feedstocks

Herein, a copper‐catalyzed C−F bond defluorosilylation reaction of tetrafluoroethylene and other polyfluoroalkenes is described. Mechanistic studies, based on a series of stoichiometric reactions with copper complexes, revealed that the key steps of this defluorosilylation reaction are 1) the 1,2‐addition of a silylcopper intermediate to the polyfluoroalkene and 2) a subsequent selective β‐fluorine elimination, which generates a Cu−F species. The β‐fluorine elimination is facilitated by Lewis acidic F−Bpin, which is generated in situ during the defluorosilylation.