2-[N,N-Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amino]-5-chloropyridine provides good yields of vinyl triflates from the corresponding ketone enolates or dienolates. It is used in the total synthesis of (-)-porantheridine and the trans decahydroquinoline alkaloid (+)-219A. It is also used as a reactant for Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling, synthesis of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-selective ligands, enantioselective desymmetrizing palladium catalyzed carbonylation reactions, synthesis of high affinity niacin receptor GPR109A agonists and in preparation of heteroaromatics.