Mg-promoted C-trifluoroacetylation of benzophenone

Mg-promoted reduction of benzophenones in the presence of ethyl trifluoroacetate and trimethylchlorosilane in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone afforded the corresponding cross-coupling products, which were easily transformed into C-trifluoroacetylated compounds of benzophenones through desilylation by tetrabutylammonium fluoride.