Reactions of hydrocarbons with electrophilic transition metal complexes in trifluoroacetic acid

The results of studies on the catalytic and stoichiometric activation of C–H and C=C bonds in hydrocarbons by electrophilic metal complexes in trifluoroacetic acid are surveyed. Reactions involving the dehydrogenation of cycloalkanes, carboxylation and oxydative carbonylation, of alkanes and aromatic compounds, oxidative coupling of aromatic hydrocarbons, oligomerisation of norbornadiene with participation of transition metal trifluoroacetates, and certain others are examined. Much attention is devoted to the conditions for the generation of active species and their nature. The bibliography includes 185 references.