Synthesis and physical chemical properties of CF3O-containg secondary amines—Perspective building blocks for drug discovery

•Ten CF3O-containing cyclic aliphatic secondary amines were prepared using different approaches.•Effect of CF3O group on physico-chemical properties of several aliphatic secondary amines was evaluated. The effect of CF3O-group on the acid/base properties and lipophilicity is rather complex and depends on the substitution position and the conformation of the molecules.•DFT calculations and X-ray data for one of the compounds (trifluoromethoxymethyl)piperidine) show a favored gauche-arrangement with regard to the amino group.