Linchpin synthons: Metalation of aryl bromides bearing a potassium trifluoroborate moiety

Aryl bromides bearing a potassium trifluoroborate moiety were subjected to lithium-halogen exchange at low temperatures using a variety of alkyllithium reagents. Potassium trifluoroborates afforded good to excellent yields of the corresponding alcohols when aldehydes or ketones were used as the electrophilic partner.