Copper-Catalyzed Trifluoromethylation of Terminal Alkenes through Allylic C–H Bond Activation

Copper-catalyzed one-pot trifluoromethylation/aryl migration/carbonyl formation with homopropargylic alcohols

A novel copper-catalyzed one-pot functionalization of homopropargylic alcohols that involves trifluoromethylation, aryl migration, and formation of a carbonyl moiety has been developed. This reaction constitutes the first direct conversion of homopropargylic alcohols into CF3-containing 3-butenal or 3-buten-1-one derivatives in a regioselective manner. Mechanistic studies indicate that the 1,4-aryl migration proceeds through a radical pathway.

Oxidative trifluoromethylation and trifluoromethylthiolation reactions using (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane as a nucleophilic CF3 source

The trifluoromethyl group is widely prevalent in many pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals because its incorporation into drug candidates could enhance chemical and metabolic stability, improve lipophilicity and bioavailability, and increase the protein bind affinity. Consequently, extensive attention has been devoted toward the development of efficient and versatile methods for introducing the CF3 group into various organic molecules. Direct trifluoromethylation reaction has become one of the most efficient and important approaches for constructing carbon-CF3 bonds. Traditionally, the nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reaction involves an electrophile and the CF3 anion, while the electrophilic trifluoromethylation reaction involves a nucleophile and the CF3 cation. In 2010, we proposed the concept of oxidative trifluoromethylation: the reaction of nucleophilic substrates and nucleophilic trifluoromethylation reagents in the presence of oxidants. In this Account, we describe our recent studies of oxidative trifluoromethylation reactions of various nucleophiles with CF3SiMe3 in the presence of oxidants. We have focused most of our efforts on constructing carbon-CF3 bonds via direct trifluoromethylation of various C-H bonds. We have demonstrated copper-mediated or -catalyzed or metal-free oxidative C-H trifluoromethylation of terminal alkynes, tertiary amines, arenes and heteroarenes, and terminal alkenes. Besides various C-H bonds, aryl boronic acids proved to be viable nucleophilic coupling partners for copper-mediated or -catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with CF3SiMe3. To further expand the reaction scope, we also applied H-phosphonates to the oxidative trifluoromethylation system to construct P-CF3 bonds. Most recently, we developed silver-catalyzed hydrotrifluoromethylation of unactivated olefins. These studies explore boronic acids, C-H bonds, and P-H bonds as novel nucleophiles in transition-metal-mediated or -catalyzed cross-coupling reactions with CF3SiMe3, opening new viewpoints for future trifluoromethylation reactions. Furthermore, we also achieved the oxidative trifluoromethylthiolation reactions of aryl boronic acids and terminal alkynes to construct carbon-SCF3 bonds by using CF3SiMe3 and elemental sulfur as the nucleophilic trifluoromethylthiolating reagent. These oxidative trifluoromethylation and trifluoromethylthiolation reactions tolerate a wide range of functional groups, affording a diverse array of CF3- and CF3S-containing compounds with high efficiencies, and provide elegant and complementary alternatives to classical trifluoromethylation and trifluoromethylthiolation reactions. Because of the importance of the CF3 and SCF3 moieties in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, these reactions would have potential applications in the life science fields.

Addition of CF3 across unsaturated moieties: a powerful functionalization tool

This review summarizes recent methodologies for the simultaneous formation of C–CF₃ and C–C or C–heteroatom bonds by formal addition reactions to alkenes.

In the last few years, the efficient introduction of trifluoromethyl groups in organic molecules has become a major research focus. This review highlights the recent developments enabling the incorporation of CF₃ groups across unsaturated moieties, preferentially alkenes, and the mechanistic scenarios governing these transformations. We have specially focused on methods involving the simultaneous formation of C–CF₃ and C–C or C–heteroatom bonds by formal addition reactions across π-systems, as such difunctionalization processes hold valuable synthetic potential.

Catalytic C-H α-trifluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds

A copper(I)-catalyzed, regioselective C-H α-trifluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds using Togni's reagent was developed. Diverse substrates, including enones as well as α,β-unsaturated esters, thioesters, and amides, stereospecifically afforded the corresponding (E)-α-trifluoromethylated products in moderate to high yields. Further, this method was applied to the C-H trifluoromethylation of drugs.

Difluoro-and Trifluoromethylation of Electron-Deficient Alkenes in an Electrochemical Microreactor

Electrochemical microreactors, which have electrodes integrated into the flow path, can afford rapid and efficient electrochemical reactions without redox reagents due to the intrinsic properties of short diffusion distances. Taking advantage of electrochemical microreactors, Kolbe electrolysis of di-and trifluoroacetic acid in the presence of various electron-deficient alkenes was performed under constant current at continuous flow at room temperature. As a result, di-and trifluoromethylated compounds were effectively produced in either equal or higher yields than identical reactions under batch conditions previously reported by Uneyamas group. The strategy of using electrochemical microreactor technology is useful for an effective fluoromethylation of alkenes based on Kolbe electrolysis in significantly shortened reaction times.

DDQ-mediated oxidative coupling: an approach to 2,3-dicyanofuran (thiophene)

A facile oxidative coupling of α-carbonyl radicals to 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) for the synthesis of 2,3-dicyanofurans and thiophenes starting from readily available β-diketones, simple ketones, and β-keto thioamides in up to 95% yield in one step was developed. Mechanistic investigations revealed that a radical process could be involved in this transformation, and a water promoted C-C bond cleavage pathway is proposed for the formation of 2,3-dicyanofurans and thiophenes.

Allylic functionalization of unactivated olefins with Grignard reagents

New advances in the functionalization of unactivated olefins with carbon nucleophiles have provided more efficient and practical approaches to convert inexpensive starting materials into valuable products. Recent examples have been reported with stabilized carbon nucleophiles, tethered carbon nucleophiles, diazoesters, and trifluoromethane donors. A general method for functionalizing olefins with aromatic, aliphatic, and vinyl Grignard reagents was developed. In a one-pot process, olefins are oxidized by a commercially available reagent to allylic electrophiles, which undergo selective copper-catalyzed allylic alkylation with Grignard reagents. Products are formed in high yield and with high regioselectivity. This was utilized to synthesize a series of skipped dienes, a class of compounds that are prevalent in natural products and are difficult to synthesize by known allylic alkylation methods.

Room temperature decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids by photoredox catalysis

A visible-light-induced decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids, which uses the Togni reagent as the CF3 source is disclosed. The corresponding trifluoromethylated alkenes were obtained in moderate to high yields with excellent functional group tolerance at ambient temperature. Preliminary mechanistic analyses suggest a radical-type mechanism.

Copper-mediated C-H trifluoromethylation of quinones

Quinones undergo copper-mediated C-H trifluoromethylation reactions using a hypervalent iodine reagent. The reactions have a broad synthetic scope involving naphtho, alkyl, chloro and methoxy quinones.

An efficient regioselective hydrodifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes with TMSCF2CO2Et at ambient temperature

An efficient regioselective hydrodifluoromethylation of diverse unactivated vicinal alkenes is described. The primary mechanistic investigations indicate that a CF₂COOEt radical species is involved.

Copper-catalyzed nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of benzylic chlorides

The reactions of primary and secondary benzylic chlorides with trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane in the presence of a catalytic amount of copper(i) thiophene-2-carboxylate (CuTC) have been found to give the corresponding benzylic trifluoromethylated products in good to high yields.

Palladium(ii)-catalyzed direct conversion of allyl arenes into alkenyl nitriles

Alkenyl nitriles can be easily accessed by Pd(ii)-catalyzed reaction of allyl arenes with tert-butyl nitrite as both the nitrogen source and oxidant and N-hydroxyphthalimide as the co-catalyst.

Synthesis and applications of α-trifluoromethylated alkylboron compounds

RBF3 K is a chemist's BFF: A metal-free synthetic route to unprecedented organoboron compounds bearing an α-trifluoromethyl substituent, employing a variety of trifluoroborate (RBF3 K) starting materials, is reported. These substrates represent the first isolated α-trifluoromethylated alkylboron building blocks, and these reagents lead to a variety of useful bench-stable, synthetic intermediates. Pin=pinacol.

Copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of alkenes with an electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagent

An efficient method for the copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes with an electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagent has been developed. The reactions proceeded smoothly to give trifluoromethylated alkenes in good to excellent yields. The results provided a versatile approach for the construction of C_vinyl–CF₃ bonds without using prefunctionalized substrates.

Directing-group-assisted copper-catalyzed olefinic trifluoromethylation of electron-deficient alkenes

Assistance provided: The directing group in the title reaction not only activates the substrates but also allows the stereospecific formation of cis-trifluoromethylated products. The reaction is operationally simple and tolerates a wide variety of functional groups, thus providing an efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of β-CF3 -functionalized acrylamide derivatives.