Update 1 of: Asymmetric fluorination, trifluoromethylation, and perfluoroalkylation reactions

Enantioselective alpha-trifluoromethylation of aldehydes via photoredox organocatalysis

The first enantioselective, organocatalytic alpha-trifluoromethylation and alpha-perfluoroalkylation of aldehydes have been accomplished using a readily available iridium photocatalyst and a chiral imidazolidinone catalyst. A range of alpha-trifluoromethyl and alpha-perfluoroalkyl aldehydes were obtained from commercially available perfluoroalkyl halides with high efficiency and enantioselectivity. The resulting alpha-trifluoromethyl aldehydes were subsequently shown to be versatile precursors for the construction of a variety of enantioenriched trifluoromethylated building blocks.

Highly enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of alpha-trifluoromethyldihydropyrans using a novel bifunctional piperazine-thiourea catalyst

The first enantioselective Michael addition of alpha-cyanoketones to alpha,beta-unsaturated trifluoromethyl ketones using a novel piperazine-thiourea catalyst was described. The resulting alpha-trifluoromethyldihydropyrans were obtained in high yields and with up to 95% ee within a short reaction time. A useful transformation of the chiral adduct was also illustrated.

Fluorine & chirality: how to create a nonracemic stereogenic carbon-fluorine centre?

Enantiopure organofluorine compounds are at the forefront of innovation in the field of fluorine chemistry. The significant progress in modern fluoroorganic chemistry parallels the tremendous achievements in organocatalysis and organometallic catalysis that have permitted the asymmetric synthesis of chiral chemicals featuring a fluorinated stereogenic carbon centre. This tutorial review provides an overview of the current state of the art in asymmetric construction of stereogenic carbon-fluorine centres, not only by direct fluorination, but also by asymmetric reaction of fluorinated substrates.