Metal‐Free Synthesis of 5‐Trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐Triazoles from Iodine‐Mediated Annulation of Trifluoroacetimidoyl Chlorides and Hydrazones

Recent advances in the synthesis of trifluoromethyl-containing heterocyclic compounds via trifluoromethyl building blocks

Trifluoromethylated heterocyclic compounds have played an increasingly significant role in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials. This is because the introduction of trifluoromethyl could enhance the lipophilicity, metabolic stability, and pharmacokinetic properties of heterocyclic drug molecules. Therefore, the synthesis of trifluoromethylated heterocyclics has become a major subject of research. The construction of trifluoromethylated heterocyclics via the annulation of trifluoromethyl building blocks with suitable partners has been proved to be a powerful strategy. In this review, we systematically summarize and discuss recent advances in the preparation of trifluoromethyl-containing heterocyclics via trifluoromethyl building block strategies over the period from 2019 to the present.

Synthesis of 3,4,5-Trisubstituted 1,2,4-Triazoles via I2-Catalyzed Cycloaddition of Amidines with Hydrazones

A general and practical method for the construction of various 3,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2,4-triazoles via I2-catalyzed cycloaddition of N-functionalized amidines with hydrazones is reported. This strategy features cheap and readily available catalyst and starting materials, broader substrate scope, and moderate-to-good yields. The mechanism study shows that the existence of hydrogen on the nitrogen of hydrazones is crucial for this transformation.

Base-Promoted (3 + 2) Cycloaddition of Trifluoroacetohydrazonoyl Chlorides with Imidates En Route to Trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-Triazoles

A base-mediated (3 + 2) cycloaddition of trifluoroacetohydrazonoyl chlorides with imidates for the construction of 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazoles has been described. This reaction is characterized by readily starting materials, simple reaction conditions, good yields, a broad substrate scope, and excellent regioselectivity. The utility of this protocol has been validated by the synthesis of a drug-like molecule.

Regioselective Synthesis of 5-Trifluoromethyl 1,2,4-Triazoles via [3 + 2]-Cycloaddition of Nitrile Imines with CF3CN

We herein describe a general approach to 5-trifluoromethyl 1,2,4-triazoles via the [3 + 2]-cycloaddition of nitrile imines generated in situ from hydrazonyl chloride with CF₃CN, utilizing 2,2,2-trifluoroacetaldehyde O-(aryl)oxime as the precursor of trifluoroacetonitrile. Various functional groups, including alkyl-substituted hydrazonyl chloride, were tolerated during cycloaddition. Furthermore, the gram-scale synthesis and common downstream transformations proved the potential synthetic relevance of this developed methodology.

Metal-free synthesis of 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazoles via multi-component reaction of trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides, hydrazine hydrate and benzene-1,3,5-triyl triformate

A convenient approach for the construction of pharmaceutically valuable 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazoles has been developed, which employs the readily available trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides, hydrazine hydrate and benzene-1,3,5-triyl triformate (TFBen) as starting materials. The multi-component reaction features broad substrate scope, high efficiency, and scalability, providing a facile and straightforward route to the biologically important 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazole scaffolds in moderate to good yields. Considering its broad-spectrum pharmaceutical activity, the method offers the opportunity for the further study towards the toxicity risk assessment and structure-activity relationship of the pharmaceuticals containing trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazole cores.

Synthesis of 3-Trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazolines and 1,2,4-Triazoles via Tandem Addition/Cyclization of Trifluoromethyl N-Acylhydrazones with Cyanamide

A tandem addition/cyclization reaction between trifluoromethyl N-acylhydrazones and cyanamide is described, which provides a novel and efficient process for the synthesis of polysubstituted 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazolines and their derivatives. The method has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, good product yields, and atom economy.

Regioselective synthesis of 3-trifluoromethyl 1,2,4-triazoles via photocycloaddition of sydnone with CF3CN

A photocycloaddition of sydnone with CF3CN for the regioselective synthesis of 3-trifluoromethyl 1,2,4-triazoles is reported.

Synthesis of multi-substituted 1,2,4-triazoles utilising the ambiphilic reactivity of hydrazones

The synthesis of N-alkyl-1H-1,2,4-triazoles from N,N-dialkylhydrazones and nitriles via formal [3+2] cycloaddition including the C-chlorination/nucleophilic addition/cyclisation/dealkylation sequence was developed. This sequential reaction utilising the in situ generation of hydrazonoyl chloride based on the ambiphilic reactivity of hydrazones afforded a variety of multi-substituted N-alkyl-triazoles in high yields. The synthetic utility of multi-substituted triazoles was also demonstrated by further transformations.

The cascade coupling/iodoaminocyclization reaction of trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides and allylamines: metal-free access to 2-trifluoromethyl-imidazolines

A metal-free cascade coupling/iodoaminocyclization reaction for the rapid assembly of 2-trifluoromethyl-imidazolines has been disclosed. The transformation applies readily accessible trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides, allylamines and N-iodosuccinimides as the starting substrates, achieving an efficient and straightforward pathway to construct diverse imidazoline derivatives. Excellent efficiency of the reaction is observed (higher than 90% isolated yield for half of the examples), and the obtained imidazoline products bearing a pendent iodomethyl group could be easily transformed into other synthetically valuable compounds.

Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of 1,2,4-Triazols, 1,3,4-Thiadiazols, and 1,3,4-Selenadiazoles from N-Tosylhydrazones

The diversity-oriented synthesis of 1,2,4-triazols, 1,3,4-thiadiazols, and 1,3,4-selenadiazoles from N-tosylhydrazones was developed, and the reactions were general for a wide range of substrates, in which NH₂CN, KOCN, KSCN, and KSeCN were used as odorless sources. Two different pathways were proposed, and N-tosylhydrazonoyl chlorides were formed in situ in the presence of NCS.

Synthesis of 3H-1,2,4-Triazol-3-ones via NiCl2-Promoted Cascade Annulation of Hydrazonoyl Chlorides and Sodium Cyanate

A nickel-promoted cascade annulation reaction for the facile synthesis of 3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ones from readily available hydrazonoyl chlorides and sodium cyanate has been developed. The transformation occurs through a cascade nickel-promoted intermolecular nucleophilic addition-elimination process, intramolecular nucleophilic addition, and a hydrogen-transfer sequence. The method has been successfully applied for the construction of the core skeleton of the angiotensin II antagonist.

Silver-Mediated [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with Trifluoroacetimidoyl Chlorides for the Synthesis of 5-(Trifluoromethyl)imidazoles

A silver-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides for the rapid assembly of 5-(trifluoromethyl)imidazoles has been developed. Notable features of the reaction include readily accessible reagents, a broad substrate scope, and high efficiency. The protocol can be successfully applied to construct the analogue of the specific allosteric modulator of GABA_A receptors. The silver species could be recycled by a simple operation.

Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade Carbonylative Synthesis of 1,2,4-Triazol-3-ones from Hydrazonoyl Chlorides and NaN3

A palladium-catalyzed three-component carbonylative reaction for the synthesis of 3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ones from hydrazonoyl chlorides and NaN₃ has been achieved. The reaction presumably proceeds through a cascade carbonylation, acyl azide formation, Curtius rearrangement, and intramolecular nucleophilic addition sequence. A wide variety of structurally diverse 3H-1,2,4-triazol-3-ones were constructed in moderate to excellent yields. Benzene-1,3,5-triyl triformate (TFBen) was applied as a solid and convenient CO surrogate.

Friedel-Crafts synthesis of bis(trifluoromethylated)-4-aryl-3,4-dihydroquinazolines, bis(trifluoromethylated)-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-4-ols and trifluoromethyl arylketoimines using N-aryltrifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides and benzene derivatives

A simple and straightforward approach to access biologically important N-heterocycles, namely bis(trifluoromethylated)-4-aryl-3,4-dihydroquinazolines, bis(trifluoromethylated)-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-4-ols and trifluoromethyl arylketoimines, as a group of important frameworks or initial substance from N-aryltrifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides with benzene derivatives via Friedel-Crafts reaction has been described. This novel strategy provides synthesis of trifluoromethylated dihydroquinazolines and trifluoromethyl arylketoimines in good to excellent yields.

Palladium-catalyzed carbonylative synthesis of 5-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazoles from trifluoroacetimidohydrazides and aryl iodides

A new palladium-catalyzed three-component carbonylative procedure for the construction of 5-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazoles from trifluoroacetimidohydrazides and aryl iodides has been developed. TFBen is applied as a safe and convenient solid CO surrogate here.

Copper-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides and N-isocyanoiminotriphenylphosphorane for the synthesis of 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazoles

Herein, a facile and straightforward route to synthesize 3-trifluoromethyl-1,2,4-triazoles via copper-mediated [3 + 2] cycloaddition of trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides and N-isocyanoiminotriphenylphosphorane (NIITP) has been described.

Synthesis of 5-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3-triazoles via base-mediated cascade annulation of diazo compounds with trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides

A metal-, azide- and CF₃-reagent free approach for the synthesis of 5-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3-triazoles via base-mediated cascade annulation of diazo compounds with trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides has been developed.

FeCl3-Mediated Synthesis of 2-(Trifluoromethyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones from Isatins and Trifluoroacetimidoyl Chlorides

An FeCl₃-mediated cascade coupling/decarbonylative annulation reaction for the efficient construction of 2-(trifluoromethyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones has been developed. This transformation employs readily available isatins and trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides as the starting materials, providing a facile and practical route to diverse biologically relevant quinazolin-4(3H)-one derivatives. A plausible reaction pathway has been proposed based on the mechanistic observations.

Trifluoroacetimidoyl halides: a potent synthetic origin

In the review, recent advances in the synthetic applications of trifluoroacetimidoyl halides have been summarized.

Palladium-catalyzed three-component carbonylative synthesis of 2-(trifluoromethyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones from trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides and amines

An efficient and practical approach for the synthesis of 2-(trifluoromethyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-ones through palladium-catalyzed three-component carbonylative reaction has been developed.

A formal [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of N-methylimidazole as a masked hydrogen cyanide: access to 1,3-disubstitued-1H-1,2,4-triazoles

N-Methylimidazole (NMI) can act as a masked HCN in the synthesis of 1,3-disubstitued-1H-1,2,4-triazoles via a formal cycloaddition reaction of hydrazonoyl chloride with NMI.