Enthalpic and polar effects in the reactions of perfluoroalkyl radicals

C-H Bond Functionalization of N-Heteroarenes Mediated by Selectfluor

Herein, recent developments for Selectfluor-mediated C-H functionalization of N-heteroarenes are described. This type of C-H bond activation is an attractive and competitive alternative to traditional methodologies, allowing the functionalization of a variety of chemical functions. In addition, Selectfluor is a more sustainable and economically accessible oxidant compared with expensive/toxic metals or hazardous peroxides. For a practical understanding, the current review classified systematically the reported strategies in four subsections as follows: (1) carbon-carbon formation, (2) carbon-nitrogen bond formation, (3) carbon-chalcogen bond, and (4) carbon-halogen bond formation. Mechanistic aspects and reaction conditions are fully discussed to provide an understanding of the aspects that govern C-H functionalization in N-heteroarenes mediated by Selectfluor.

Heteroarene Phosphinylalkylation via a Catalytic, Polarity-Reversing Radical Cascade

A polarity-reversing radical cascade strategy for alkene di-functionalization by vicinal C-C and C-P bond-formation has been developed. This approach to concurrently adding phosphorous and a heteroarene across an olefin is enabled by photocatalytic generation of electrophilic P-centered radicals. Upon chemoselective addition to an olefin, the resulting nucleophilic C-centered radical selectively combines with electrophilic heteroarenes, such as pyridines. This multi-component coupling scheme for phosphinylalkylation complements classic two-component methods for hydrophosphinylation of alkenes and C-H phosphinylation of arenes. Included competition and photo-quenching experiments provide insight into the selectivity and mechanism of this polarity-reversal pathway.

Multi-component heteroarene couplings via polarity-reversed radical cascades

A multi-component radical addition strategy enables difunctionalization of alkenes with heteroarenes and a variety of radical precursors, including N3, P(O)R2, and CF3. This unified approach for coupling diverse classes of electrophilic radicals and heteroarenes to vinyl ethers allows for direct, vicinal C-C as well as C-N, C-P, and C-Rf bond formation.

Direct alkylation of heteroarenes with unactivated bromoalkanes using photoredox gold catalysis

Although visible light photoredox catalysis has emerged as a powerful tool for the construction of C-C bonds, common catalysts and/or their photoexcited states suffer from low redox potentials, limiting their applicability to alkyl radical generation from substrates with activated carbon-halogen bonds. Radicals derived from these activated compounds, being highly electrophilic or stabilized, do not undergo efficient addition to heteroarenes. Herein we describe the photocatalytic generation of nucleophilic alkyl radicals from unactivated bromoalkanes as part of a universal and efficient cross-coupling strategy for the direct alkylation of heteroarenes using a dimeric gold(i) photoredox catalyst, [Au2(bis(diphenylphosphino)methane)2]Cl2. The method proves to be efficient for alkylation of arenes under mild conditions in the absence of directing groups.

Solution-Phase Perfluoroalkylation of C60 Leads to Efficient and Selective Synthesis of Bis-Perfluoroalkylated Fullerenes

A solution-phase perfluoroalkylation of C₆₀ with a series of R_FI reagents was studied. The effects of molar ratio of the reagents, reaction time, and presence of copper metal promoter on fullerene conversion and product composition were evaluated. Ten aliphatic and aromatic R_FI reagents were investigated (CF₃I, C₂F₅I, n-C₃F₇I, i-C₃F₇I, n-C₄F₉I, (CF₃)(C₂F₅)CFI, n-C₈F₁₇I, C₆F₅CF₂I, C₆F₅I, and 1,3-(CF₃)₂C₆F₃I) and eight of them (except for C₆F₅I and 1,3-(CF₃)₂C₆F₃I) were found to add the respective R_F groups to C₆₀ in solution. Efficient and selective synthesis of C₆₀(R_F)₂ derivatives was developed.

Copper-mediated fluoroalkylation reactions with iododifluoroacetamides: controlling the selectivity among cross-coupling, intramolecular cyclization, and homocoupling reactions

Cu-mediated fluoroalkylation reactions with iododifluoroacetamides 1 have been systematically investigated. It was found that three types of reactions may coexist in Cu-mediated reactions between iododifluoroacetamides and aryl/alkenyl iodides: cross-coupling, intramolecular cyclization, and homocoupling reactions. The selectivity among these three types of reactions could be controlled by tuning the substituents on the nitrogen atom of iododifluoroacetamides, and/or by removing the cross-coupling reaction partner (aryl/alkenyl halides). The general rule is as follows: (a) in the presence of proper aryl/alkenyl iodides, the cross-coupling products 2 (or 6) are generally formed as the major products; (b) in the absence of aryl/alkenyl iodides, and when R(1) = alkyl and R(2) = aryl groups, or when R(1) = R(2) = aryl groups, the intramolecular cyclization products 3 can be formed predominantly; and (c) in the absence of aryl/alkenyl iodides, and when R(1) = R(2) = alkyl groups, or when R(1) = H and R(2) = alkyl, aryl groups, the homocoupling products 4 can be formed dominantly. Our experimental results also indicate that in many cases when cross-coupling, homocoupling, and intramolecular cyclization reactions coexist in the Cu-mediated reaction system, the reactivity decreases in the following order: cross-coupling > intramolecular cyclization > homocoupling.