Asymmetric Fluorofunctionalizations with Carboxylate-Based Phase-Transfer Catalysts

Fluorine is an attractive element in the field of pharmaceutical and agrochemical chemistry due to its unique properties. Considering the chiral environment in nature, where enantiomers often show different biological activities, the introduction of fluorine atom(s) into organic molecules to make chiral fluorinated compounds is an important subject. Herein, we describe the story of the development of our chiral carboxylate-based phase-transfer catalysts and their applications for asymmetric fluorocyclizations of alkenes bearing a carboxylic acid, an amide, and an oxime as an internal nucleophile with a dicationic fluorinating reagent, Selectfluor. We also describe dearomative fluorinations of indole derivatives, 2-naphthols, and resorcinols.

anti-Markovnikov Iodofluorination of Alkenes

The fluorination of alkenes with electrophilic N-F type reagents usually occurs through a Markovnikov-type addition, and the anti-Markovnikov-type addition may require the use of a transition metal catalyst or an expensive catalyst. Herein we describe a convenient anti-Markovnikov iodofluorination of alkenes with Selectfluor/ nBu4NI. A wide substrate scope and good functional group tolerance were observed. The process allows for the construction of various C-F bonds, especially tertiary C-F bonds. The remarkable features make this protocol attractive, including convenient operations, simple reaction conditions, and the installation of an iodine atom which provides possibilities for further transformations.

Recent Strategies for Carbon-Halogen Bond Formation Using Nickel

Nickel catalysis has demonstrated the capability of performing a broad range of synthetically challenging transformations over the last decade. Though recent literature has focused on the formation of C-C and C-N bonds, a variety of breakthroughs in the field of C-X bond generation have also been reported. A diverse range of strategies using nickel have been developed, in an effort to expand the scope and synthetic utility of these halogenation methods. This Minireview will cover six emerging strategies in this field including: oxidatively induced C-X reductive elimination, triflate-to-halogen exchange reactions, directed C-H halogenation, non-directed electrophilic C-H halogenation of arenes, enantioselective α-fluorination of carbonyl containing compounds, and 1,2-difunctionalization-halogenation reactions. The final section has been split into two parts: nickel-catalyzed hydrohalogenation and nickel-catalyzed carbohalogenation reactions.

Hydrofluorination of Alkenes: A Review

In this minireview, we explore the different approaches used to perform the hydrofluorination reaction of alkenes. Contrary to other hydrohalogenation reactions, the hydrofluorination requires specific conditions due to the lower reactivity of HF. Over the years, many different approaches have been explored among which the use of HF complexes has particularly proved to be useful as these reagents are easier to handle. The enantioselective hydrofluorination has been demonstrated using electrophilic sources of fluorine, while radical fluorination proved compatible with a vast range of functional groups that are generally problematic with strong acids and some fluoride sources. This review will cover the different conditions developed through the years, starting with the first reported addition using gaseous HF, up to the most recent method described in October 2020.

Enantio- and Diastereoselective Hydrofluorination of Enals by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis

In contrast to well-established asymmetric hydrogenation reactions, enantioselective protonation is an orthogonal approach for creating highly valuable methine chiral centers under redox-neutral conditions. Reported here is the highly enantio- and diastereoselective hydrofluorination of enals by an asymmetric β-protonation/α-fluorination cascade catalyzed by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs). The two nucleophilic sites of a homoenolate intermediate, generated from enals and an NHC, are sequentially protonated and fluorinated. The results show that controlling the relative rates of protonation, fluorination, and esterification is crucial for this transformation, and can be accomplished using a dual shuttling strategy. Structurally diverse carboxylic acid derivatives with two contiguous chiral centers are prepared in a single step with excellent d.r. and ee values.

Ligand-Promoted Iron(III)-Catalyzed Hydrofluorination of Alkenes

An iron-catalyzed hydrofluorination of unactivated alkenes has been developed. The use of a multidentate ligand and the fluorination reagent N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) proved to be critical for this reaction, which afforded various fluorinated compounds in up to 94 % yield.

Late-stage fluorination: fancy novelty or useful tool?

Charming fluorine: This Essay examines the recent surge in late-stage fluorination reactions and outlines challenges that need to be overcome to increase the impact of modern fluorination methods on the synthesis of complex organofluorine compounds. It is outlined how an improved understanding of the bonding interactions of fluoride could lead to a new class of mild fluorinating reagents and a range of functional-group-tolerant reactions.

Hydrofluorination of Alkynes Catalysed by Gold Bifluorides

We report the synthesis of nine new N-heterocyclic carbene gold bifluoride complexes starting from the corresponding N-heterocyclic carbene gold hydroxides. A new methodology to access N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene gold(I) fluoride starting from N,N'-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene gold(I) hydroxide and readily available potassium bifluoride is also reported. These gold bifluorides were shown to be efficient catalysts in the hydrofluorination of symmetrical and unsymmetrical alkynes, thus affording fluorinated stilbene analogues and fluorovinyl thioethers in good to excellent yields with high stereo- and regioselectivity. The method is exploited further to access a fluorinated combretastatin analogue selectively in two steps starting from commercially available reagents.