Synthesis of Chiral (Indol-2-yl)methanamines and Insight into the Stereochemistry Protecting Effects of the 9-Phenyl-9-fluorenyl Protecting Group

Mild, Rapid, and Chemoselective Procedure for the Introduction of the 9-Phenyl-9-fluorenyl Protecting Group into Amines, Acids, Alcohols, Sulfonamides, Amides, and Thiols

The 9-phenyl-9-fluorenyl (PhF) group has been used as an N^α protecting group of amino acids and their derivatives mainly as a result of its ability to prevent racemization. However, installing this group using the standard protocol, which employs 9-bromo-9-phenylfluorene/K₃PO₄/Pb(NO₃)₂, often takes days and yields can be variable. Here, we demonstrate that the PhF group can be introduced into the amino group of Weinreb's amides and methyl esters of amino acids, as well as into alcohols and carboxylic acids, rapidly and in excellent yields, using 9-chloro-9-phenylfluorene (PhFCl)/N-methylmorpholine (NMM)/AgNO₃. N^α-PhF-protected amino acids can be prepared from unprotected α-amino acids, rapidly and often in near quantitative yields, by treatment with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA) and then PhFCl/NMM/AgNO₃. Primary alcohols can be protected with the PhF group in the presence of secondary alcohols in moderate yield. Using PhFCl/AgNO₃, a primary alcohol can be protected in good yield in the presence of a primary ammonium salt or a carboxylic acid. Primary sulfonamides and amides can be protected in moderate to good yields using phenylfluorenyl alcohol (PhFOH)/BF₃·OEt₂/K₃PO₄, while thiols can be protected in good to excellent yield using PhFOH/BF₃·OEt₂ even in the presence of a carboxylic acid or primary ammonium group.

Structures, Lewis Acidities, Electrophilicities, and Protecting Group Abilities of Phenylfluorenylium and Tritylium Ions

The isolation, characterization, and the first X-ray structures of a fluorenylium ion and its Lewis adducts with nitrogen- and phosphorus-centered Lewis bases are reported. Kinetics of the reactions of a series of fluorenylium ions with reference π-, σ-, and n-nucleophiles of various sizes and nucleophilicities allowed the interplay between electronic and structural parameters on the electrophilicities of these planarized tertiary carbenium ions to be elucidated. Structure-reactivity correlations and extensive comparisons of their reactivities with those of di- and triarylcarbenium ions are described. Quantitative determination of the electrofugalities of fluorenylium ions revealed to which extent they are complementing tritylium ions as protecting groups and how their tuning is possible. Determination of the equilibrium constants of the Lewis adducts formation between pyridines of calibrated Lewis basicities and phenylfluorenylium and tritylium ions allowed the determination of their Lewis acidities and to showcase the potential of these carbon-centered Lewis acids in catalysis.