As shown in Scheme 1, the reaction pathway of Cu/Ag-catalyzed trifluoromethylation
of aryl iodides was proposed. The trifluoromethyl silver bond 5 was first generated. The
transmetalation of the trifluoromethyl silver species 5 with copper iodide formed the trifluoromethyl
copper species 7 which was reacted with iodoarenes 1 releasing the trifluoromethylated arenes 3
and regenerated copper iodide 6 as a catalyst.
Scheme