Efficient synthesis of 5′-fluoroalkoxythiazoles via α-bromo-α-fluoroalkoxyacetophenones Hantzsch type cyclization with thioureas or thioamides

Copper(I) Iodide-Catalyzed Perfluoroalkoxylation Reaction of Alkyl Halides

We report an efficient perfluoroalkoxylation reaction of alkyl halides catalyzed by copper(I) iodide (CuI), which facilitates the simultaneous activation of both perfluoroalkoxide and alkyl halides. This methodology is tolerant of a wide range of functional groups and eliminates the need for costly metal reagents. The reaction is conducted in a single step under mildly practical conditions.

Reactivity of [AuF3 (SIMes)]: Pathway to Unprecedented Structural Motifs

We report on a comprehensive reactivity study starting from [AuF3 (SIMes)] to synthesize different motifs of monomeric gold(III) fluorides. A plethora of different ligands has been introduced in a mono-substitution yielding trans-[AuF2 X(SIMes)] including alkynido, cyanido, azido, and a set of perfluoroalkoxido complexes. The latter were better accomplished via use of perfluorinated carbonyl-bearing molecules, which is unprecedented in gold chemistry. In case of the cyanide and azide, triple substitution gave rise to the corresponding [AuX3 (SIMes)] complexes. Comparison of the chemical shift of the carbene carbon atom in the 13 C{1 H} NMR spectrum, the calculated SIMes affinity and the Au-C bond length in the solid state with related literature-known complexes yields a classification of trans-influences for a variety of ligands attached to the gold center. Therein, the mixed fluorido perfluoroalkoxido complexes have a similar SIMes affinity to AuF3 with a very low Gibbs energy of formation when using the perfluoro carbonyl route.

Perfluoroalkoxylation reaction via dual concurrent catalysis

A catalytic amount of CsI enables dual concurrent activation of poorly reactive perfluoroalkoxide and alkyl halides, especially alkyl chlorides, leading to the formation of diverse perfluoroalkoxylated organic compounds. Installation of perfluoroalkoxy groups by this methodology is cost-effective, circumventing the need for over-stoichiometric cesium or silver salts. This methodology also provides high functional group compatibility and tolerance of sterically hindered substrates.

N-Trifluoromethoxyphthalimide: A Shelf-Stable Reagent for Nucleophilic Trifluoromethoxylation

Due to the unique properties of the OCF₃ group, trifluoromethyl ether compounds play an important role in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Recently, considerable attention has been focused on the development of practical and convenient reagents for the direct incorporation of the OCF₃ group into organic compounds. Herein, we reported a new trifluoromethoxylating reagent N-trifluoromethoxyphthalimide (Phth-OCF₃). The reagent was a stable solid and released an OCF₃ anion under mild reaction conditions. We demonstrated the application of Phth-OCF₃ for the nucleophilic trifluoromethoxylation of various alkyl electrophiles.

Rational design of metabolically stable HDAC inhibitors: An overhaul of trifluoromethyl ketones

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression using histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors is a promising strategy for developing new anticancer agents. The most common HDAC inhibitors are hydroxamates, which, though highly potent, have limitations due to their poor pharmacokinetic properties and lack of isoform selectivity. Trifluoromethylketones (TFMK) developed as alternatives to hydroxamates are rapidly metabolized to inactive trifluoromethyl alcohols in vivo, which prevented their further development as potential drug candidates. In order to overcome this limitation, we designed trifluoropyruvamides (TFPAs) as TFMK surrogates. The presence of an additional electron withdrawing group next to the ketone carbonyl group made the hydrate form of the ketone more stable, thus preventing its metabolic reduction to alcohol in vivo. In addition, this structural modification reduces the potential of the TFMK group to act as a covalent warhead to eliminate off-target effects. Additional structural changes in the cap group of the inhibitors gave analogues with IC50 values ranging from upper nanomolar to low micromolar in the cytotoxicity assay, and they were more selective for cancer cells over normal cells. Some of the most active analogues inhibited HDAC enzymes with low nanomolar IC50 values and were found to be more selective for HDAC8 over other isoforms. These molecules provide a new class of HDAC inhibitors with a metabolically stable metal-binding group that could be used to develop selective HDAC inhibitors by further structural modification.

Synthesis of Aryl Perfluorocyclopropyl Ethers via [2 + 1] Cyclopropanation Using TMSCF2Br Reagent

Aryl perfluorocyclopropyl ethers have been synthesized for the first time by [2 + 1] cyclopropanation between aryl trifluorovinyl ethers and a commercially available TMSCF₂Br reagent. This cycloaddition reaction between two fluorine-containing reactants proceeds smoothly in toluene at 120 °C in the presence of a catalytic amount of n-Bu₄NBr, and the reaction tolerates a variety of functional groups. A wide range of aryl trifluorovinyl ethers, easily accessible from phenols, were successfully transformed to aryl perfluorocyclopropyl ethers.

Advances in the Development of Trifluoromethoxylation Reagents

This review provides a short summary of the traditional methods for synthesis of CF3-O-containing compounds, followed by a critical overview of known trifluoromethoxylating reagents, focusing on their preparation, synthetic generality and limitations.

Nucleophilic and Radical Heptafluoroisopropoxylation with Redox-Active Reagents

The heptafluoroisopropyl group (CF(CF₃ )₂ ) is prevalent in pharmaceuticals and agrichemicals. However, heptafluoroisopropoxylated (OCF(CF₃ )₂ ) compounds remain largely underexplored, presumably due to the lack of efficient access to these compounds. Herein, we disclose the practical and efficient heptafluoroisopropoxylation reactions through the invention of a series of redox-active N-OCF(CF₃ )₂ reagents. These reagents were readily prepared from the oxidative heptafluoroisopropylation of hydroxylamines with AgCF(CF₃ )₂ . The substitutions on the nitrogen atom significantly affected the properties and reactivities of N-OCF(CF₃ )₂ reagents. Accordingly, two types of N-OCF(CF₃ )₂ reagents including N-OCF(CF₃ )₂ phthalimide A and N-OCF(CF₃ )₂ benzotriazolium salt O' were used as OCF(CF₃ )₂ anion and radical precursors, respectively. This protocol enables the direct heptafluoroisopropoxylation of a range of substrates, delivering the corresponding products in moderate to excellent yields.

Trifluoromethoxypyrazines: Preparation and Properties

The incorporation of the trifluoromethoxy group into organic molecules has become very popular due to the unique properties of the named substituent that has a "pseudohalogen" character, while the chemical properties of the synthesized compound, especially heterocycles with such a group, are less studied. As trifluoromethoxy-substituted pyrazines are still unknown, we have developed efficient and scalable methods for 2-chloro-5-trifluoromethoxypyrazine synthesis, showing the synthetic utility of this molecule for Buchwald-Hartwig amination and the Kumada-Corriu and Suzuki and Sonogashira coupling reactions. Some comparisons of chlorine atom and trifluoromethoxy group stability in these transformations have been carried out.

Cobalt-Catalyzed Trifluoromethoxylation of Epoxides

A catalytic ring-opening reaction of epoxides by nucleophilic trifluoromethoxylation of trifluoromethyl arylsulfonate has been developed based on the use of a cobalt catalyst. This reaction provides an efficient, simple route for directly construction of a wide range of vicinal trifluoromethoxyhydrins under mild conditions. In addition, this method can convert terminal epoxides into target products with good chemo- and regioselectivity.

Synthesis of heteroaromatic trifluoromethyl ethers with trifluoromethyl triflate as the source of the trifluoromethoxy group

A series of nitrogen-heterocycles have been transformed to the corresponding trifluoromethyl and higher perfluoroalkyl ethers by the reaction of the N-oxides with trifluoromethyl triflate as a bifunctional reagent.

Dichlorotrifluoromethoxyacetic Acid: Preparation and Reactivity

We describe the first gram scale preparation of the reagent dichlorotrifluoromethoxyacetic acid. This stable compound is obtained in five steps starting from the cheap diethylene glycol. The reactivity of the sodium salt of this fluorinated acid was also tested and allowed the preparation of new amides.

Selective C-O bond formation via a photocatalytic radical coupling strategy: access to perfluoroalkoxylated (ORF) arenes and heteroarenes

Synthesis of perfluoroalkoxylated (hetero)arenes (Ar–OR_F) from readily available perfluoroalkyl iodides (R_F–I) through photocatalytic selective O–R_F bond formation.

Development of an efficient process that employs commercially available and cost effective reagents for the synthesis of perfluoroalkoxylated aromatic compounds (Ar–OR_F) remains a daunting challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, we report the first catalytic protocol using readily available perfluoroalkyl iodides (R_FI) and N-(hetero)aryl-N-hydroxylamides to access a wide range of perfluoroalkoxylated (hetero)arenes. Mild reaction conditions allow for selective O–R_F bond formation over a broad substrate scope and are tolerant of a wide variety of functional groups. Mechanistic studies suggest the formation and recombination of persistent N-hydroxyl radicals and transient R_F radicals under photocatalytic reaction conditions to generate N–OR_F compounds that rearrange to afford the desired products.

Asymmetric silver-catalysed intermolecular bromotrifluoromethoxylation of alkenes with a new trifluoromethoxylation reagent

Fluorinated organic compounds are becoming increasingly important in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and materials science. The introduction of trifluoromethoxy groups into new drugs and agrochemicals has attracted much attention due to their strongly electron-withdrawing nature and high lipophilicity. However, synthesis of trifluoromethoxylated organic molecules is difficult owing to the decomposition of trifluoromethoxide anion and β-fluoride elimination from transition-metal-trifluoromethoxide complexes, and no catalytic enantioselective trifluoromethoxylation reaction has been reported until now. Here, we present an example of an asymmetric silver-catalysed intermolecular bromotrifluoromethoxylation of alkenes with trifluoromethyl arylsulfonate (TFMS) as a new trifluoromethoxylation reagent. Compared to other trifluoromethoxylation reagents, TFMS is easily prepared and thermally stable with good reactivity. In addition, this reaction is operationally simple, scalable and proceeds under mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, broad scope and good functional group compatibility has been demonstrated by application of the method to the bromotrifluoromethoxylation of double bonds in natural products and natural product derivatives.

Synthetic Approaches to Trifluoromethoxy-Substituted Compounds

Because of the unique properties of the trifluoromethoxy group, molecules bearing this moiety will find applications in various fields, particularly in the life sciences. However, despite the great interest in this functional group, only a small number of trifluoromethoxylated molecules are currently synthetically accessible. Over the last few years, several innovative and promising strategies for the synthesis of trifluoromethoxylated compounds have been described. This Minireview discusses these existing methods with a particular focus on more recent advances.

Access to a new class of synthetic building blocks via trifluoromethoxylation of pyridines and pyrimidines

Since the first synthesis of trifluoromethyl ethers in 1935, the trifluoromethoxy (OCF3) group has made a remarkable impact in medicinal, agrochemical, and materials science research. However, our inability to facilely incorporate the OCF3 group into molecules, especially heteroaromatics, has limited its potential across a broad spectrum of technological applications. Herein, we report a scalable and operationally simple protocol for regioselective trifluoromethoxylation of a wide range of functionalized pyridines and pyrimidines under mild reaction conditions. The trifluoromethoxylated products are useful scaffolds that can be further elaborated by amidation and palladium-catalysed cross coupling reactions. Mechanistic studies suggest that a radical O-trifluoromethylation followed by the OCF3-migration reaction pathway is operable. Given the unique properties of the OCF3 group and the ubiquity of pyridine and pyrimidine in biologically active molecules and functional materials, trifluoromethoxylated pyridines and pyrimidines could serve as valuable building blocks for the discovery and development of new drugs, agrochemicals, and materials.

Three-component synthesis of fluorinated pyrazoles from fluoroalkylamines, NaNO2 and electron-deficient alkynes

Three-component synthesis of fluorinated pyrazoles.