CuI -Catalyzed Pentafluoroethylation of Aryl Iodides in the Presence of Tetrafluoroethylene and Cesium Fluoride: Determining the Route to the Key Pentafluoroethyl CuI Intermediate

Copper-Mediated -CF(OCF3)(CF2H) Transfer to Organic Electrophiles

The integration of fluorine into medicinal compounds has become a widely used strategy to improve the biochemical and therapeutic properties of drugs. Inclusion of -CF2H and -OCF3 fluoroalkyl groups has garnered attention due to their bioisosteric properties, enhanced lipophilicity, and potential hydrogen-bonding capability in bioactive substances. In this study, we prepared a series of stable Cu[CF(OCF3)(CF2H)]L n complexes by insertion of commercially available perfluoro(methyl vinyl ether), CF2=CF(OCF3), into Cu-H bonds derived from Stryker's reagent, [CuH(PPh3)]6, using ancillary ligands L. Notably, certain of these complexes effectively transfer the fluoroalkyl group to aroyl chlorides. Through reaction optimization and computational analysis, we identified dimethylsulfoxide as a pivotal coligand, playing a distinctive role in enabling the fluoroalkylation of a range of aroyl chlorides and aryl iodides. The latter also benefits from addition of CuBr to abstract PPh3, generating solvent-stabilized Cu[CF(OCF3)(CF2H)]. These methodologies allow for the introduction of geminal -OCF3 and -CF2H groups in a single transformation.

Synthesis and application of well-defined [Ph4P]+[Cu(CF2CF3)2]- complex as a versatile pentafluoroethylating reagent

We herein describe the preparation and application of a new bispentafluoroethylated organocuprate [Ph4P]+[Cu(CF2CF3)2]-. This complex has demonstrated a remarkable range of reactivities towards carboxylic acids, diazonium salts, organic halides, boronic esters, terminal alkynes and (hetero)arenes as a versatile pentafluoroethylating reagent. The construction of C(sp3)-/C(sp2)-/C(sp)-CF2CF3 bonds can therefore be achieved using a single reagent.

Controllable Double Difluoromethylene Insertions into S-Cu Bonds: (Arylthio)tetrafluoroethylation of Aryl Iodides with TMSCF2Br

A new method of constructing "ArSCF2CF2Cu" from ArSCu and TMSCF2Br (TMS=trimethylsilyl) has been developed. The cross-coupling reactions of the obtained "ArSCF2CF2Cu" with diverse aryl iodides (Ar'I) provide an efficient access to Ar'CF2CF2SAr. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that the "ArSCF2CF2Cu" species were generated through controllable double difluoromethylene insertions into ArS-Cu bonds rather than the 1,2-addition of ArSCu to tetrafluoroethylene.

Multi-substituted trifluoromethyl alkene construction via gold-catalyzed fluoroarylation of gem-difluoroallenes

An unprecedented fluoroarylation of 1,1-difluoroallenes with a cost-effective nucleophilic fluoride reagent and aryldiazonium salts is reported. This visible light promoted gold-catalyzed reaction allows a stereo- and regioselective incorporation of both the fluorine atom and aryl group, enabling a straightforward construction of multi-substituted trifluoromethyl alkenes. Under the mild reaction conditions, a nice tolerance of diverse functional groups is achieved. The high regioselectivity for fluorine-incorporation is rationalized by considering the thermodynamic driving force of trifluoromethyl group formation, whereas the counterintuitive stereoselectivity that aryl is installed on the side of the bulkier γ-substituent is interpreted by alleviating the increasing 1,3-allylic interaction in the gold-coordinated allene intermediate en route to the product.

Recent advances on non-precious metal-catalysed fluorination, difluoromethylation, trifluoromethylation, and perfluoroalkylation of N-heteroarenes

This review highlights the recent advances, from 2015 to 2023, on the introduction of organo-fluorine derivatives at the N-heteroarene core. Notable features considering new technologies based on organofluorine compounds such as: (i) approaches based on non-precious metal catalysis (Fe, Co, Mn, Ni, etc.), (ii) the development of new strategies using non-precious metal-catalysts for the introduction of organo-fluorinine derivatives using N-heterocycles with one or more heteroatoms, (iii) newer reagents for fluorination, difluoromethylation, trifluoromethylation, or perfluoroalkylation of N-heteroarenes using different approaches, (iv) mechanistic studies on various catalytic transformations, as and when required, and (v) the synthetic applications of various bio-active organo-fluorine compounds, including post-synthetic drug derivatization, are discussed.

Copper-mediated pentafluoroethylation of organoboronates and terminal alkynes with TMSCF3

The TMSCF₃-derived CuCF₂CF₃ species has been successfully applied in pentafluoroethylation of organoboronates and terminal alkynes. By using 1,10-phenanthroline as a ligand, a broad range of (hetero)arylboronates and alkenylboronates were smoothly pentafluoroethylated under aerobic conditions. Furthermore, terminal alkynes can undergo aerobic cross-coupling with the TMSCF₃-derived CuCF₂CF₃ species in the absence of additional ligands.

Radical cyclization/bis(pentafluoroethylation) of 1,6-dienes using HCF2CF3-derived CuCF2CF3

A domino radical cyclization/bis(pentafluoroethylation) of 1,6-dienes is described. This method provides access to N-heterocycles/carbocycles containing two C2F5 groups in one step.

Highly Active Cross-Metathesis of Tetrafluoroethylene with a Seven-Membered N-Heterocyclic-Carbene-Ruthenium Catalyst

A drastic increase in catalyst turnover number (TON) was accomplished in the cross-metathesis of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and vinyl ethers. Under a continuous flow of TFE, catalyst Ru7, which contains a seven-membered N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, reached a TON of 4100; this is 2 orders of magnitude higher than the highest hitherto reported value. Mechanistic studies revealed that the expanded NHC successfully destabilizes the stable intermediates with a difluorocarbene structure, which strongly promotes the reaction.

Copper-catalyzed [3 + 1] cyclization of cyclopropenes/diazo compounds and bromodifluoroacetamides: facile synthesis of α,α-difluoro-β-lactam derivatives

We have developed a novel copper-catalyzed cyclization of cyclopropenes/diazo compounds and bromodifluoroacetamides, efficiently synthesizing a series of α,α-difluoro-β-lactams in moderate to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. This reaction represents the first example of [3 + 1] cyclization for the synthesis of β-lactams utilizing a metal carbene intermediate as the C1 synthon.

A copper-catalyzed [3 + 1] cyclization of cyclopropenes and bromodifluoroacetamides/diazo compounds has been successfully developed, efficiently synthesizing a wide range of α,α-difluoro-β-lactams.

CsF-Catalyzed Fluoroacylation of Tetrafluoroethylene Using Acyl Fluorides for the Synthesis of Pentafluoroethyl Ketones

A catalytic method for the synthesis of pentafluoroethyl ketones­ has been developed. The cesium fluoride catalyst can be used to convert acyl fluorides into the pentafluoroethyl ketones under tetrafluoroethylene pressure without generating stoichiometric quantities of chemical waste. Mechanistic studies suggest that high reaction temperature is crucial for the ketone to be the major product.

Modern approaches towards the synthesis of geminal difluoroalkyl groups

This review will cover the importance of and most recent approaches toward geminal difluoroalkyl groups. Transition metal-mediated, photochemical, organocatalytic, and other methods as well as their mechanistic implications will be discussed, with special emphasis on applications to biologically-relevant compounds.

Synthesis of aryl 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1-difluoroethyl ethers through the base-mediated reaction between phenols and halothane

An efficient and convenient method for the synthesis of structurally unique and highly functionalized aryl 2-bromo-2-chloro-1,1-difluoroethyl ethers has been developed. This approach exhibits a broad reaction scope, a simple operation and without the need of any expensive transition-metal catalyst, highly toxic or corrosive reagents. Notably, we demonstrate the potential utility of halothane for the synthesis of aryl gem-difluoroalkyl ethers containing the bromochloromethyl group.

Direct Transformation of Tetrafluoroethylene to Trifluorovinylzinc via sp2 C-F Bond Activation

Trifluorovinylzinc is a common synthetic intermediate for trifluorovinyl derivatives, including α,β,β-trifluorostyrenes and hexafluorobutadiene. Here, we report a novel synthetic approach for the formation of trifluorovinylzinc chloride via a C-F bond activation of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), which is an industrially cost-effective bulk feedstock with a negligible GWP. The present system provides a practical synthetic route to various trifluorovinyl derivatives with very low energy consumption.

Radical Pentafluoroethylation of Unactivated Alkenes Using CuCF2CF3

We have found that the CuCF₂CF₃ complex generated from low-cost pentafluoroethane is a convenient and practical source for the CF₂CF₃ radical under aerobic conditions at room temperature. Using this system, readily available unactivated alkenes can be pentafluoroethylated to provide novel allylic CF₂CF₃ compounds with excellent E-selectivity and functional group tolerability. Mechanistic studies including TEMPO-CF₂CF₃ trapping and radical clock experiments provided strong evidence for radical pathways, offering a new opportunity for copper-mediated radical perfluoroalkylation.

Practical copper-catalyzed chloronitration of alkenes with TMSCl and guanidine nitrate

A practical chloronitration of alkenes catalyzed by cheap copper sulfate pentahydrate to provide vic-chloronitro compounds in good to excellent yields was developed, and the resulting products could be transformed into diverse nitro compounds.

Unusual Electronic Effects of Ancillary Ligands on the Perfluoroalkylation of Aryl Iodides and Bromides Mediated by Copper(I) Pentafluoroethyl Complexes of Substituted Bipyridines

Several perfluoroalkylcopper compounds have been reported previously that serve as reagents or catalysts for the perfluoroalkylation of aryl halides. However, the relationships between the reactivity of such complexes and the electronic properties of the ancillary ligands are unknown, and such relationships are not well-known in general for copper complexes that mediate or catalyze cross coupling. We report the synthesis and characterization of a series of pentafluoroethylcopper(I) complexes ligated by bipyridine ligands possessing varied electronic properties. In contrast to the limited existing data on the reactivity of L2Cu(I)-X complexes bearing amine and pyridine-type ligands in Ullmann-type aminations with aryl halides, the reactions of aryl halides with pentafluoroethylcopper(I) complexes bearing systematically varied bipyridine ligands were faster for complexes bearing less electron-donating bipyridines than for complexes bearing more electron-donating bipyridines. Analysis of the rates of reaction and the relative populations of the neutral complexes [(R2bpy)CuC2F5] and ionic complexes [(R2bpy)2Cu][Cu(C2F5)2] formed by these reagents in solution suggests that this effect of electronics on the reaction rate results from an unusual trend of faster oxidative addition of aryl halides to [(R2bpy)CuC2F5] complexes containing less electron-donating R2bpy ligands than to those containing more electron-donating R2bpy ligands.

Controllable double CF2-insertion into sp2 C-Cu bond using TMSCF3: a facile access to tetrafluoroethylene-bridged structures

A highly efficient method for controllable double CF₂-insertion into pentafluorophenylcopper species using TMSCF₃ as difluoromethylene source has been developed. The newly generated fluoroalkylcopper(i) species, C₆F₅CF₂CF₂Cu, shows good reactivity towards a myriad of structurally diverse aryl, heteroaryl and alkenyl iodides. This protocol is easy to handle, ready to scale up and applicable for the synthesis of relative complex molecules, thus providing a convenient method for facile access to tetrafluoroethylene-bridged structures.

Generation of Aryl Radicals from Aryl Halides: Rongalite-Promoted Transition-Metal-Free Arylation

A new and practical method for the generation of aryl radicals from aryl halides is reported. Rongalite as a novel precursor of super electron donors was used to initiate a series of electron-catalyzed reactions under mild conditions. These transition-metal-free radical chain reactions enable the efficient formation of C-C, C-S, and C-P bonds through homolytic aromatic substitution or S_RN1 reactions. Moreover, the synthesis of antipsychotic drug Quetiapine was performed on gram scale through the described method. This protocol demonstrated its potential as a promising arylation method in organic synthesis.

Catalyst-controlled regiodivergent ring-opening C(sp3)-Si bond-forming reactions of 2-arylaziridines with silylborane enabled by synergistic palladium/copper dual catalysis

A Pd/Cu catalyst-controlled regiodivergent and stereospecific ring-opening C(sp³)–Si cross-coupling of 2-arylaziridines with silylborane has been developed and a new tandem reaction to give another regioisomer of silylamine has been discovered.

A catalyst-controlled regiodivergent and stereospecific ring-opening C(sp³)–Si cross-coupling of 2-arylaziridines with silylborane enabled by synergistic Pd/Cu dual catalysis has been developed. Just by selecting a suitable combination of catalysts, the regioselectivity of the coupling is completely switched to efficiently provide two regioisomers of β-silylamines (i.e., β-silyl-α-phenethylamines and β-silyl-β-phenethylamines) in good to high yields. Furthermore, a slight modification of the reaction conditions caused a drastic change in reaction pathways, leading to a tandem reaction to produce another regioisomer of silylamine (i.e., α-silyl-β-phenethylamines) in an efficient and selective manner.

Selective Copper Complex-Catalyzed Hydrodefluorination of Fluoroalkenes and Allyl Fluorides: A Tale of Two Mechanisms

The transition to more economically friendly small-chain fluorinated groups is leading to a resurgence in the synthesis and reactivity of fluoroalkenes. One versatile method to obtain a variety of commercially relevant hydrofluoroalkenes involves the catalytic hydrodefluorination (HDF) of fluoroalkenes using silanes. In this work it is shown that copper hydride complexes of tertiary phosphorus ligands (L) can be tuned to achieve selective multiple HDF of fluoroalkenes. In one example, HDF of the hexafluoropropene dimer affords a single isomer of heptafluoro-2-methylpentene in which five fluorines have been selectively replaced with hydrogens. DFT computational studies suggest a distinct HDF mechanisms for L₂CuH (bidentate or bulky monodentate phosphines) and L₃CuH (small cone angle monodentate phosphines) catalysts, allowing for stereocontrol of the HDF of trifluoroethylene.

Selective Catalytic Formation of Cross-Tetramers from Tetrafluoroethylene, Ethylene, Alkynes, and Aldehydes via Nickelacycles as Key Reaction Intermediates

In the presence of a catalytic amount of Ni(cod)₂ (cod = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) and PCy₃ (Cy = cyclohexyl), the cross-tetramerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), ethylene, alkynes, and aldehydes leads to a variety of fluorine-containing enone derivatives. This reaction is the first example of a highly selective cross-tetramerization between four different unsaturated compounds. Stoichiometric reactions revealed that the present reaction involves partially fluorinated five- and seven-membered nickelacycles as key reaction intermediates.

Fluorine-Containing Dibenzoanthracene and Benzoperylene-Type Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Synthesis, Structure, and Basic Chemical Properties

Intramolecular photocyclization of stilbene derivatives (Mallory reaction) is one of the efficient methods for building polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) frameworks, and is also expected to be applicable to synthesis of fluorine-containing PAHs (F-PAHs). In this study, dibenzoanthracene-type (4a) and benzoperylene-type (4b) F-PAHs were synthesized using the Mallory reaction of the 1,4-distyrylbenzene-type π-conjugated molecule (3a), which was prepared by addition-defluorination of available octafluorocyclopentene (OFCP) and aryllithium in three steps. The structure of 4a originating from π⁻π interaction was characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The absorption maxima of UV-Vis spectra and emission maxima of photoluminescence spectra of the PAHs were positioned at a longer wavelength compared to those of the corresponding unsubstituted PAHs, presumably due to the electron-withdrawing nature of perfluorocyclopentene (PFCP) units. The effect of PFCP units in F-PAHs was also studied by time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculation.