New axially dissymmetric ligand recoverable with fluorous solvent

Fluorine in metal-catalyzed asymmetric transformations: the lightest halogen causing a massive effect

This review aims at providing an overview of the most significant applications of fluorine-containing ligands reported in the literature starting from 2001 until mid-2021. The ligands are classified according to the nature of the donor atoms involved. This review highlights both metal-ligand interactions and the structure-reactivity relationships resulting from the presence of the fluorine atom or fluorine-containing substituents on chiral catalysts.

2,2'-Bipyridine-α,α'-trifluoromethyl-diol ligand: synthesis and application in the asymmetric Et2Zn alkylation of aldehydes

A chiral 2,2'-bipyridine ligand (1) bearing α,α'-trifluoromethyl-alcohols at 6,6'-positions was designed in five steps affording either the R,R or S,S enantiomer with excellent stereoselectivities, i.e. 97% de, >99% ee and >99.5% de, >99.5% ee, respectively. The key step for reaching high levels of stereoselectivity was demonstrated to be the resolution of the α-CF₃-alcohol using (S)-ibuprofen as the resolving agent. An initial application for the 2,2'-bipyridine-α,α'-CF₃-diol ligand was highlighted in the Zn^II-catalyzed asymmetric ethylation reaction of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic aldehydes. Synergistic electron deficiency and steric hindrance properties of the newly developed ligand afforded the corresponding alcohols in good to excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee). As observed from single crystal diffraction analysis, the complexation of the 2,2'-bipyridine-α,α'-CF₃-diol ligand generates an unusual hexacoordinated Zn^II.

Synthesis of a Conformationally Stable Atropisomeric Pair of Biphenyl Scaffold Containing Additional Stereogenic Centers

The synthesis of a new CF₃-containing stereogenic atropisomeric pair of ortho-disubstituted biphenyl scaffold is presented. The atropisomers are surprisingly conformationally stable for isolation. X-ray structures show that their stability comes from an intramolecular hydrogen bond formation from their two hydroxyl groups and renders the spatial arrangement of their peripheral CF₃ and CH₃ groups very different. The synthesized stereogenic scaffold proved to be effective in catalyzing the asymmetric N-nitroso aldol reaction of enamine and nitrosobenzene. Compared to similar scaffolds without CF₃ groups, one of our atropisomer exhibits an increase in enantioselectivity in this reaction.

Synthesis of a fluorous ligand and its application for asymmetric addition of dimethylzinc to aldehydes

A new fluorous ligand was synthesized from the acetonide of dimethyl tartarate, which showed excellent asymmetric induction on the addition of dimethylzinc to aldehydes. This ligand will be useful for synthesis of bioactive compounds with a methyl carbinol moiety. It could be recycled without using a fluorous solvent or a fluorous column.

Perfluorocarbon-based Liquid-Liquid Extraction for Separation of Transition Metal Ions

We report a liquid-liquid extraction system based on perfluorocarbon (fluorous-solvent extraction) that allows selective extraction of metal ions from aqueous and organic phases to a perfluorocarbon phase (FC-72) with perfluorinated beta-diketone (1,1,1,5,5,6,6,6-octafluoro-2,4-hexanedione), which can be followed by backward extraction using 1 M nitric acid.