The unique role of fluorine in the design of active ingredients for modern crop protection

Silver-catalyzed vinylogous fluorination of vinyl diazoacetates

A silver-catalyzed vinylogous fluorination of vinyl diazoacetates to generate γ-fluoro-α,β-unsaturated carbonyls is presented. Application of this method to the fluorination of farnesol and steroid derivatives was achieved.

2,2,2-Trifluoro-N-(2-iodophenyl)acetamide

The three F atoms in the title compound, C8H5F3INO, are disordered over two sets of sites [relative occupancies = 0.615 (14):0.385 (14)]. In the crystal, molecules are linked by N—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming chains running along thec-axis direction. The dihedral angle between the ring and the amide group is 62.1 (3)°.

Visible light-promoted metal-free C-H activation: diarylketone-catalyzed selective benzylic mono- and difluorination

We report herein an operationally simple method for the direct conversion of benzylic C-H groups to C-F. We show that visible light can activate diarylketones to abstract a benzylic hydrogen atom selectively. Adding a fluorine radical donor yields the benzylic fluoride and regenerates the catalyst. The selective formation of mono- and difluorination products can be achieved by catalyst control. 9-Fluorenone catalyzes benzylic C-H monofluorination, while xanthone catalyzes benzylic C-H difluorination. The scope and efficiency of this new C-H fluorination method are significantly better than those of the existing methods. This is also the first report of selective C-H gem-difluorination.

Recent advances in transition metal-catalyzed Csp(2)-monofluoro-, difluoro-, perfluoromethylation and trifluoromethylthiolation

In the last few years, transition metal-mediated reactions have joined the toolbox of chemists working in the field of fluorination for Life-Science oriented research. The successful execution of transition metal-catalyzed carbon-fluorine bond formation has become a landmark achievement in fluorine chemistry. This rapidly growing research field has been the subject of some excellent reviews. Our approach focuses exclusively on transition metal-catalyzed reactions that allow the introduction of -CFH2, -CF2H, -C n F2 n +1 and -SCF3 groups onto sp² carbon atoms. Transformations are discussed according to the reaction-type and the metal employed. The review will not extend to conventional non-transition metal methods to these fluorinated groups.

Direct electrophilic N-trifluoromethylthiolation of amines with trifluoromethanesulfenamide

The CF3SN moiety is a substituent with interesting properties. However, there is no easy synthetic access to molecules bearing this group. The trifluoromethanesulfenamide is a new reagent for the electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolation which reacts easily with amines to obtain trifluoromethylsulfanylamines with good yields.

Palladium-catalyzed allylic C-H fluorination

The first catalytic allylic C-H fluorination reaction using a nucleophilic fluoride source is reported. Under the influence of a Pd/Cr cocatalyst system, simple olefin substrates undergo fluorination with Et3N·3HF in good yields with high branched:linear regioselectivity. The mild conditions and broad scope make this reaction a powerful alternative to established methods for the preparation of allylic fluorides from prefunctionalized substrates.

Direct and diastereoselective alkylation and aldol reactions of α-bromo-α-fluoro-β-lactams

Herein, we describe the development of a method for the direct alkylation and aldol reaction of α-bromo-α-fluoro-β-lactams. This method provides facile access to a wide range of 3-alkyl- and 3-hydroxyalkyl-fluoro-β-lactams in good yields under mild conditions. The products were obtained with complete diastereoselectivity with regard to the relative configuration of the β-lactam ring at C3 and C4 positions. The reaction conditions were tolerant of a broad range of electrophiles, which highlights the overall scope and utility of this procedure.

Introduction of fluorine and fluorine-containing functional groups

Over the past decade, the most significant, conceptual advances in the field of fluorination were enabled most prominently by organo- and transition-metal catalysis. The most challenging transformation remains the formation of the parent C-F bond, primarily as a consequence of the high hydration energy of fluoride, strong metal-fluorine bonds, and highly polarized bonds to fluorine. Most fluorination reactions still lack generality, predictability, and cost-efficiency. Despite all current limitations, modern fluorination methods have made fluorinated molecules more readily available than ever before and have begun to have an impact on research areas that do not require large amounts of material, such as drug discovery and positron emission tomography. This Review gives a brief summary of conventional fluorination reactions, including those reactions that introduce fluorinated functional groups, and focuses on modern developments in the field.

Copper-catalyzed, directing group-assisted fluorination of arene and heteroarene C-H bonds

We have developed a method for direct, copper-catalyzed, auxiliary-assisted fluorination of β-sp(2) C-H bonds of benzoic acid derivatives and γ-sp(2) C-H bonds of α,α-disubstituted benzylamine derivatives. The reaction employs a CuI catalyst, a AgF fluoride source, and DMF, pyridine, or DMPU solvent at moderately elevated temperatures. Selective mono- or difluorination can be achieved by simply changing reaction conditions. The method shows excellent functional group tolerance and provides a straightforward way for the preparation of ortho-fluorinated benzoic acids.

Fluorine detected 2D NMR experiments for the practical determination of size and sign of homonuclear F-F and heteronuclear C-F multiple bond J-coupling constants in multiple fluorinated compounds

The use of fluorine in molecules obtained from chemical synthesis has become increasingly important within the pharmaceutical and agricultural industry. NMR characterization of these compounds is of great value with respect to their structure elucidation, their screening in metabolomics investigations and binding studies. The favorable NMR properties of the fluorine nucleus make NMR with fluorine detection of great value in this respect. A suite of NMR 2D F-F- and F-C-correlation experiments with fluorine detection was applied to the assignment of resonances, (n)J(CF)- and (n)J(FF)-couplings as well as the determination of their size and sign. The utilization of this experiment suite was exemplarily demonstrated for a highly fluorinated vinyl alkyl ether. Especially F-C HSQC and J-scaled F-C HMBC experiments allowed determining the size of the J-couplings of this compound. The relative sign of its homo- and heteronuclear couplings was achieved by different combinations of 2D NMR experiments, including non-selective and F2-selective F-C XLOC, F2-selective F-C HMQC, and F-F COSY. The F2-one/two-site selective F-C XLOC versions were found highly useful, as they led to simplifications of the common E.COSY patterns and resulted in a higher confidence level of the assignment by using selective excitation. The combination of F2-one/two-site selective F-C XLOC experiments with a F2-one-site selective F-C HMQC experiment provided the signs of all (n)J(CF)- and (n)J(FF)-couplings in the vinyl moiety of the test compound. Other combinations of experiments were found useful as well for special purposes when focusing for example on homonuclear couplings a combination of F-F COSY-10 with a F2-one-site selective F-C HMQC could be used. The E.COSY patterns in the spectra demonstrated were analyzed by use of the spin-selective displacement vectors, and in case of the XLOC also by use of the DQ- and ZQ-displacement vectors. The variety of experiments presented shall contribute to facilitate the interpretation of F-C correlations as well as to open alternative pathways for the determination of size and signs of homo- and heteronuclear couplings of multiply fluorinated small molecules.

Highly fluorinated 2,2'-biphenols and related compounds: relationship between substitution pattern and herbicidal activity

A broad range of halogenated 2,2'-biphenols was tested for applicability as crop protection agents. The activity of these compounds toward four typical pest plants was observed after application by spraying of diluted solutions. Despite their rather simple structure, it was found that the studied compounds reveal a surprisingly high herbicidal impact. To gain a better understanding of the structure-activity relationship, specific sites of the molecule were chemically modified and the core structures thus gradually changed. The influence of the substitution pattern on the herbicidal properties is discussed, and conclusions on the active site of the biphenol structure are drawn. It was observed that type and position of the halogen substituents have a significant influence on the activity of the core structure. The hydroxy functionalities play a crucial role for the effectiveness of the tested compounds. Because the blocking of the hydroxy moiety leads to dramatically deteriorated performances, the presence of these functionalities on the aromatic ring seems to be indispensable.

Manganese-catalyzed oxidative benzylic C-H fluorination by fluoride ions

An efficient protocol for the selective fluorination of benzylic C-H bonds is described. The process is catalyzed by manganese salen complexes and uses nucleophilic fluorine sources, such as triethylamine trihydrofluoride and KF. Reaction rates are sufficiently high (30 min) to allow adoption for the incorporation of (18)F fluoride sources for PET imaging applications.