Asymmetric Defluoroallylation of 4-Trifluoromethylpyridines Enabled by Umpolung C-F Bond Activation

Carbon-fluorine bond activation reaction of the trifluoromethyl group represent an important approach to fluorine-containing molecules. While selective defluorofunctionalization reactions of CF3-containing substrates have been achieved by invoking difluorocarbocation, difluorocarboradical, or difluoroorganometallic species as the key intermedi-ate, the transformations via fluorocarbanion mechanism remained a limited success. Furthermore, the enantioselective defluorotransformation of CF3 group has not yet been realized. Herein, we report a defluorofunctionalization reaction of 4-trifluoromethylpyridines involving pyridyldifluoromethyl anion as the key intermediate, which was developed based upon our previous studies on the N-boryl pyridyl anion chemistry. When combined with Ir-catalysis, asymmetric defluoroallylation of 4-trifluoromethylpyridines could be achieved to forge a difluoroalkyl-substituted chiral center. The present work opens up a new opportunity for the defluorofunctionalization of CF3 group, and provides new insights into the N-boryl pyridyl anion chemistry.

Recent Advances on the Halo- and Cyano-Trifluoromethylation of Alkenes and Alkynes

Incorporation of fluorine into organic molecules is a well-established strategy in the design of advanced materials, agrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Among numerous modern synthetic approaches, functionalization of unsaturated bonds with simultaneous addition of trifluoromethyl group along with other substituents is currently one of the most attractive methods undergoing wide-ranging development. In this review article, we discuss the most significant contributions made in this area during the last decade (2012−2021). The reactions reviewed in this work include chloro-, bromo-, iodo-, fluoro- and cyano-trifluoromethylation of alkenes and alkynes.

Gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene precursors for focused electron beam-induced deposition

Seven gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes were synthesized, characterized, and identified as suitable precursors for focused electron beam-induced deposition (FEBID). Several variations on the core Au(NHC)X moiety were introduced, that is, variations of the NHC ring (imidazole or triazole), of the alkyl N-substituents (Me, Et, or iPr), and of the ancillary ligand X (Cl, Br, I, or CF3). The seven complexes were tested as FEBID precursors in an on-substrate custom setup. The effect of the substitutions on deposit composition and growth rate indicates that the most suitable organic ligand for the gold precursor is triazole-based, with the best deposit composition of 15 atom % gold, while the most suitable anionic ligand is the trifluoromethyl group, leading to a growth rate of 1 × 10−2 nm3/e−.

2-Chloro-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid and -benzamide: structural characterization of two precursors for antitubercular benzothiazinones

8-Nitro-1,3-benzothiazin-4-ones are a promising class of new antitubercular agents, two candidates of which, namely BTZ043 and PBTZ169 (INN: macozinone), have reached clinical trials. The crystal and molecular structures of two synthetic precursors, 2-chloro-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzoic acid, C8H3ClF3NO4 (1), and 2-chloro-3-nitro-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide, C8H4ClF3N2O3 (2), are reported. In 1 and 2, the respective carboxy, carboxamide and the nitro groups are significantly twisted out of the plane of the benzene ring. In 1, the nitro group is oriented almost perpendicular to the benzene ring plane. In the crystal, 1 and 2 form O—H...O and N—H...O hydrogen-bonded dimers, respectively, which in 2 extend into primary amide tapes along the [101] direction. The trifluoromethyl group in 2 exhibits rotational disorder with an occupancy ratio of 0.876 (3):0.124 (3).

Highly diastereo- and enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of trifluoromethylated erythritols based on the in situ generation of unstable trifluoroacetaldehyde

A highly diastereo- and enantioselective organocatalytic method to synthesise erythritols bearing a trifluoromethyl group has been investigated.

Organocatalytic diastereo- and enantioselective oxa-hetero-Diels-Alder reactions of enones with aryl trifluoromethyl ketones for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl-substituted tetrahydropyrans

Tetrahydropyran derivatives are are found in bioactives, and introduction of trifluoromethyl group into the molecues often improves biofunctions. Here we report diastereo- and enantioselective oxa-hetero-Diels-Alder reactions catalyzed by amine-based catalyst...