Recent Developments in the Trifluoromethylation of Alkynes

Phosphine-catalyzed remote α-C–H bond activation of alcohols or amines triggered by the radical trifluoromethylation of alkenes: reaction development and mechanistic insights

An efficient radical protocol for concomitant functionalization of both alkenes and remote α-C–H bonds of alcohols or amines via 1,5(6,7)-HAT was realized in a highly controlled site-selective manner.

Photoredox-catalyzed oxytrifluoromethylation of allenes: stereoselective synthesis of 2-trifluoromethylated allyl acetates

A novel stereoselective synthesis of 2-CF₃-allyl acetates by photocatalytic oxytrifluoromethylation of allenes has been developed.

Metal-Free Cascade Oxidative Decarbonylative Alkylation/Arylation of Alkynoates with Alphatic Aldehydes

The oxidative difunctionalization of aryl alkynoates with alphatic aldehydes as a cheap and abundant alkyl radical source was developed, providing a variety of trisubstituted alkenes in moderate to good yields. In this reaction, radical decarbonylative alkylation of C-C triple bond, 1,4-aryl migration, and decarboxylation were involved under metal-free conditions.

Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative ipso-Annulation of Activated Alkynes with Silanes: An Approach to 3-Silyl Azaspiro[4,5]trienones

A novel strategy of silylation and dearomatization of activated alkynes with silanes to synthesize azaspiro[4,5]trienones is developed, which could be facilely achieved through a tandem difunctionalization of alkyne, dearomatization, and oxidation and provided a facile approach to produce useful 3-silyl azaspiro[4,5]trienones in an efficient manner.

Fine Design of Photoredox Systems for Catalytic Fluoromethylation of Carbon-Carbon Multiple Bonds

Trifluoromethyl (CF3) and difluoromethyl (CF2H) groups are versatile structural motifs, especially in the fields of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Thus, the development of new protocols for tri- and difluoromethylation of various skeletons has become a vital subject to be studied in the field of synthetic organic chemistry. For the past decades, a variety of fluoromethylating reagents have been developed. In particular, bench-stable and easy-to-use electrophilic fluoromethylating reagents such as the Umemoto, Yagupolskii-Umemoto, Togni, and Hu reagents serve as excellent fluoromethyl sources for ionic and carbenoid reactions. Importantly, the action of catalysis has become a promising strategy for developing new fluoromethylations. For the past several years, photoredox catalysis has emerged as a useful tool for radical reactions through visible-light-induced single-electron-transfer (SET) processes. Commonly used photocatalysts such as [Ru(bpy)3](2+) and fac-[Ir(ppy)3] (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; ppy = 2-pyridylphenyl) have potential as one-electron reductants strong enough to reduce those fluoromethylating reagents, resulting in facile generation of the corresponding fluoromethyl radicals. Therefore, if we can design proper reaction systems, efficient and selective radical fluoromethylation would proceed without any sacrificial redox agents, i.e., via a redox-neutral process under mild reaction conditions: irradiation with visible light, including sunlight, below room temperature. It should be noted that examples of catalytic fluoromethylation of compounds with carbon-carbon multiple bonds have been limited until recent years. In this Account, we will focus on our recent research on photoredox-catalyzed fluoromethylation of carbon-carbon multiple bonds. First, choices of the photocatalyst and the fluoromethylating reagent and the basic concept involving a redox-neutral oxidative quenching cycle are explained. Then photocatalytic trifluoromethylation of olefins is discussed mainly. Trifluoromethylative difunctionalization reactions, i.e., simultaneous introduction of the CF3 group and a different functional group across carbon-carbon double bonds, are in the middle of the discussion. Oxy-, amino-, and ketotrifluoromethylation allow us to synthesize various organofluorine compounds bearing C(sp(3))-CF3 bonds. In addition, the synthesis of valuable trifluoromethylated alkenes is also viable when the olefins have an appropriate leaving group or undergo deprotonation. The present reaction system features high functional group compatibility and high regioselectivity. Furthermore, future prospects, especially trifluoromethylative difunctionalization of alkynes and difluoromethylation of alkenes, are also discussed.

The Role of Ate Complexes in the Copper-Mediated Trifluoromethylation of Alkynes

Trifluoromethylation reactions have recently received increased attention because of the beneficial effect of the trifluoromethyl group on the pharmacological properties of numerous substances. A common method to introduce the trifluoromethyl group employs the Ruppert-Prakash reagent, that is, Si(CH3 )3 CF3 , together with a copper(I) halide. We have applied this method to the trifluoromethylation of aromatic alkynes and used electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry to investigate the mechanism of these reactions in tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, and acetonitrile as well as with and without added 1,10-phenanthroline. In the absence of the alkyne component, the homoleptic ate complexes [Cu(CF3 )2 ](-) and [Cu(CF3 )4 ](-) were observed. In the presence of the alkynes RH, the heteroleptic complexes [Cu(CF3 )3 R](-) were detected as well. Upon gas-phase fragmentation, these key intermediates released the cross-coupling products R-CF3 with perfect selectivity. Apparently, the [Cu(CF3 )3 R](-) complexes did not originate from homoleptic cuprate anions, but from unobservable neutral precursors. The present results moreover point to the involvement of oxygen as the oxidizing agent.

Aqueous-Medium Carbon-Carbon Bond-Forming Radical Reactions Catalyzed by Excited Rhodamine B as a Metal-Free Organic Dye under Visible Light Irradiation

The utility of rhodamine B as a water-soluble organic photocatalyst was studied in the cascade radical addition-cyclization-trapping reactions under visible light irradiation. In the presence of (i-Pr)2NEt, the electron transfer from the excited rhodamine B to perfluoroalkyl iodides proceeded smoothly to promote the carbon-carbon bond-forming radical reactions in aqueous media. When i-C3F7I was employed as a radical precursor, the aqueous-medium radical reactions proceeded even in the absence of (i-Pr)2NEt. In these reactions, the direct electron transfer from the excited singlet state of rhodamine B would take place. Furthermore, the cleavage of the C-I bond in less reactive i-PrI could be achieved by the reductive electron transfer from the excited rhodamine B, which was confirmed by the fluorescence quenching of rhodamine B with the addition of i-PrI.

Redox-ligand sustains controlled generation of CF3 radicals by well-defined copper complex

A well-defined copper complex bearing iminosemiquinone ligands performs single electron reduction of an electrophilic CF3+ source into CF˙3 radicals. This redox behavior is enabled by the ligand which shuttles through two different redox states (iminosemiquinone and iminobenzoquinone) while the copper center is preserved as a Cu(ii). This system was used in the trifluoromethylation of silyl enol ethers, heteroaromatics and in the hydrotrifluoromethylation of alkynes. This is the first example of cooperative redox catalysis for the controlled generation of CF˙3 radicals.

Successive C-C bond cleavage, fluorination, trifluoromethylthio- and pentafluorophenylthiolation under metal-free conditions to provide compounds with dual fluoro-functionalization

The selective C-C bond cleavage and simultaneous formation of two C-F bonds and one C-S bond in β-keto esters with nucleophilic fluorination reagents such as DAST under metal-free/catalyst-free conditions is disclosed. Double fluorination at two remote carbons with additional dialkylamino-sulfenylation provided unique fluorinated compounds in good to high yields. This method can be applied for the successive C-C bond cleavage/fluorination/trifluoromethylthiolation of β-keto esters using trifluoromethyl-DAST (CF3-DAST) providing different type of fluorinated and trifluoromethylthiolated compounds via a shunt pathway. Doubly fluoro-functionalized compounds obtained in these reactions are unique and difficult to synthesize by other methods.

Direct vicinal difunctionalization of alkynes through trifluoromethylation and aminosulfonylation via insertion of sulfur dioxide under catalyst-free conditions

Direct vicinal difunctionalization of alkynes through a catalyst-free four-component reaction of Togni's reagent, alkynes, sulfur dioxide, and hydrazines at room temperature is developed, which generates (E)-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene-1-sulfonohydrazides in good yields.

A versatile strategy for difunctionalization of carbon–carbon multiple bonds by photoredox catalysis

Photoredox catalysis is a versatile strategy for difunctionalization of carbon–carbon multiple bonds.

Visible-light-induced three-component 1,2-difluoroalkylarylation of styrenes with α-carbonyl difluoroalkyl bromides and indoles

A novel visible light photoredox catalysis three-component 1,2-difluoroalkylarylation of styrenes was disclosed, and two new C–C bonds were generated in a single step through regioselective incorporation of a CF₂ group and a variety of indoles to CC bonds.

Generation of benzosultams via trifluoromethylation of 2-ethynylbenzenesulfonamide under visible light

Under visible light irradiation, 2-ethynylbenzenesulfonamides react with Togni's reagent in the presence of a photocatalyst leading to 3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[d]isothiazole 1,1-dioxides in good yields. This transformation proceeds efficiently at room temperature through a photo-initiated trifluoromethylation.

UV light-mediated difunctionalization of alkenes with CF3SO2Na: synthesis of trifluoromethyl phenanthrene and anthrone derivatives

A metal-free and cost-effective protocol for UV light-mediated difunctionalization of alkenes with CF₃SO₂Na was developed.

Oxydifluoromethylation of Alkenes by Photoredox Catalysis: Simple Synthesis of CF2H-Containing Alcohols

We have developed a novel and simple protocol for the direct incorporation of a difluoromethyl (CF2 H) group into alkenes by visible-light-driven photoredox catalysis. The use of fac-[Ir(ppy)3] (ppy=2-pyridylphenyl) photocatalyst and shelf-stable Hu's reagent, N-tosyl-S-difluoromethyl-S-phenylsulfoximine, as a CF2 H source is the key to success. The well-designed photoredox system achieves synthesis of not only β-CF2 H-substituted alcohols but also ethers and an ester from alkenes through solvolytic processes. The present method allows a single-step and regioselective formation of C(sp(3))-CF2 H and C(sp(3))-O bonds from C=C moiety in alkenes, such as hydroxydifluoromethylation, regardless of terminal or internal alkenes. Moreover, this methodology tolerates a variety of functional groups.

The copper-catalyzed synthesis of β-trifluoromethylated acrylonitriles and trifluoromethyl-substituted 2H-azirines

The direct assembly of acrylonitriles and valuable 2H-azirines from readily available starting materials is described.