An overview of reductive trifluoromethylation reactions using electrophilic ‘+CF3’ reagents

Catalytic C-H Trifluoromethylation of Arenes and Heteroarenes via Visible Light Photoexcitation of a Co(III)-CF3 Complex

A cobalt photocatalyst for direct trifluoromethylation of (hetero)arene C(sp2)-H bonds is described and shown to operate via visible light activation of a Co-CF3 intermediate, which functions as a combined chromophore and organometallic reaction center. Chemical oxidations of previously reported (OCO)Co complexes containing a redox-active [OCO] pincer ligand afford a Co-CF3 complex two oxidation states above Co(II). Computational and spectroscopic studies are consistent with formulation of the product as [(OCO•)CoIII(CF3)(THF)(OTf)] (II) containing an open-shell [OCO•]1- radical ligand bound to a S = 0 Co(III) center. II is thermodynamically stable, but exposure to blue (440 nm) light induces Co-CF3 bond homolysis and release of •CF3, which is trapped by radical acceptors including TEMPO•, (hetero)arenes, or the radical [OCO•] ligand in II. The latter comprises a competitive degradation pathway, which is overcome under catalytic conditions by using excess substrate. Accordingly, generation of II from the reaction of [(OCO)CoIIL] (III) (L = THF, MeCN) with Umemoto's dibenzothiophenium trifluoromethylating reagent (1) followed by photolytic Co-CF3 bond activation completes a photoredox catalytic cycle for C-H (hetero)arene trifluoromethylation utilizing visible light. Electronic structure and photophysical studies, including time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, suggest that Co-CF3 bond homolysis at II occurs via an ligand-to-metal charge-transfer (LMCT) (OCO0)CoII(CF3) state, revealing ligand redox activity as a critical design feature and establishing design principles for the use of base metal chromophores for selectivity in photoredox bond activations occurring via free radical intermediates.

Recent advances in radical enabled selective Csp3-F bond activation of multifluorinated compounds

Fluorine-containing molecules have found broad applications in pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries as introducing fluorine into a molecule could significantly tune the biological activities of parent molecules. Thus, the synthesis of fluorine-containing molecules has received substantial attention over the past few decades. As a complementary strategy for the synthesis of fluorinated compounds through new C_sp³-F bonds formation, selective cleavage of inert C_sp³-F bonds from easily-available and cost-effective multifluorinated molecules, such as fluoroalkylaromatics, α-trifluoromethyl alkenes and α-multifluorinated carbonyl compounds, has been emerging as an attractive alternative to access fluorine-containing molecules. Moreover, the inherent nature of radical reactions offers the opportunity for the selective C_sp³-F functionalizations to occur under mild conditions. In this regard, the development of photoredox catalysis, transition-metal catalysis, or electrochemistry to enable radical species generation via selective C_sp³-F cleavage has gained broad attention and substantial progress has been made over recent years. This highlight summerizes the recent advances in the single-electron-transfer enabled selective functionalizations of C_sp³-F bonds in multifluorinated compounds via radical pathways.

Visible-light-promoted trifluoromethylselenolation of ortho-hydroxyarylenaminones

Development of an efficient process that employs easy to handle and shelf-stable reagents for the synthesis of trifluoromethylselenylated heterocyclics remains a daunting challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, we report a...

Diazotrifluoroethyl Radical: A CF3-Containing Building Block in [3 + 2] Cycloaddition

We present herein a visible-light-induced [3 + 2] cycloaddition of a hypervalent iodine(III) reagent with α-ketoacids for the construction of 5-CF₃-1,3,4-oxadiazoles that are of importance in medicinal chemistry. The reaction proceeds smoothly without a photocatalyst, metal, or additive under mild conditions. Different from the well-established trifluorodiazoethane (CF₃CHN₂), the diazotrifluoroethyl radical [CF₃C(·)N₂], a trifluoroethylcarbyne (CF₃CĊ:) equivalent and an unusual CF₃-containing building block, is involved in the present reaction system.

Difluorocarbene-based cyanodifluoromethylation of alkenes induced by a dual-functional Cu-catalyst

Although cyanofluoroalkylation has received increasing attention, a toxic cyanation reagent is usually required. Herein, a Cu-catalyzed difluorocarbene-based cyanodifluoromethylation of alkenes with BrCF2CO2Et/NH4HCO3 under photocatalytic conditions is described. BrCF2CO2Et and NH4HCO3 serve as a carbon source and a nitrogen source of the nitrile group, respectively, avoiding the use of a stoichiometric toxic cyanation reagent. The Cu-complex plays a dual role. It is not only a photocatalyst, but also a coupling catalyst for the formation of a C-CN bond.

Copper-catalyzed radical cascade cyclization for synthesis of CF3-containing tetracyclic benzimidazo[2,1-a]iso-quinolin-6(5H)-ones

Here, a general copper-catalyzed radical cascade carbocyclization reaction with 2-arylbenzoimidazoles and a Togni reagent was realized. Structurally diverse CF3-containing tetracyclic core benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-6(5H)-ones were obtained in moderate to good yields. The wide substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and ease of scale-up of this method are expected to promote its potential applications in pharmacy and biotechnology.

Transition-metal mediated carbon-sulfur bond activation and transformations: an update

Carbon-sulfur bond cross-coupling has become more and more attractive as an alternative protocol to establish carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. Diverse transformations through transition-metal-catalyzed C-S bond activation and cleavage have recently been developed. This review summarizes the advances in transition-metal-catalyzed cross-coupling via carbon-sulfur bond activation and cleavage since late 2012 as an update of the critical review on the same topic published in early 2013 (Chem. Soc. Rev., 2013, 42, 599-621), which is presented by the categories of organosulfur compounds, that is, thioesters, thioethers including heteroaryl, aryl, vinyl, alkyl, and alkynyl sulfides, ketene dithioacetals, sulfoxides including DMSO, sulfones, sulfonyl chlorides, sulfinates, thiocyanates, sulfonium salts, sulfonyl hydrazides, sulfonates, thiophene-based compounds, and C[double bond, length as m-dash]S functionality-bearing compounds such as thioureas, thioamides, and carbon disulfide, as well as the mechanistic insights. An overview of C-S bond cleavage reactions with stoichiometric transition-metal reagents is briefly given. Theoretical studies on the reactivity of carbon-sulfur bonds by DFT calculations are also discussed.

Selenonium Ylides: Syntheses, Structural Aspects, and Synthetic Applications

The goals of this mini review constitute a) a presentation of the synthetic protocols applied to the preparation of achiral and non-racemic selenonium ylides; b) discussion of their basic structural features, including their optical activity; and c) a description of their synthetic applications in general synthetic methodology and in asymmetric synthesis.

Establishing Cation and Radical Donor Ability Scales of Electrophilic F, CF3, and SCF3 Transfer Reagents

Because of their unique biological, physical, and chemical properties, organofluorine compounds play an increasingly important role in numerous areas of chemistry and everyday life. However, although fluorine is the most abundant halogen in the earth's crust and ranks 13th in abundance among all elements, naturally occurring organofluorine compounds are rare. Consequently, there is a growing demand for the development of safe and efficient reagents and selective synthetic methodologies for the introduction of fluorine or fluorine-containing groups into organic compounds. A wide variety of shelf-stable electrophilic fluorinating and fluoroalkylating reagents have been developed in the past decades. Some of them have also been shown to act as radical sources. These versatile reagents have promoted revolutionary advances in synthetic fluorine chemistry. These developments of novel reagents and the choice of suitable reagents for new reactions have relied largely on the traditional trial-and-error approach because (i) structure-reactivity relationships and mechanisms of reactions of these reagents are sparse and (ii) the rules that govern the synthesis of non-fluorinated analogues cannot necessarily be transposed to fluorinated compounds ( Cahard , D. ; et al. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2014 , 43 , 135 ), since organic fluorine compounds often exhibit unusual properties. Over the past several years, our studies have aimed at establishing comprehensive cation and radical donor scales of electrophilic F, CF₃, and SCF₃ transfer reagents. We have also developed detailed structure-reactivity relationships. We used density functional theory calculations to systematically investigate the energies required to heterolytically cleave the Y-F/CF₃/SCF₃ bonds to donate electrophilic F/CF₃/SCF₃ groups. We found that these energies can be used as convenient indicators of the relative electrophilic fluorinating/trifluoromethylating/trifluoromethylthiolating strengths of these reagents. We have constructed the first comprehensive cation donor scales for electrophilic F, CF₃, and SCF₃ transfer reagents. In collaboration with Mayr group, we experimentally determined the electrophilicity parameters of SCF₃ transfer reagents and demonstrated the importance of intrinsic barriers for predicting their kinetic reactivity. The recognition of the novel application of a few traditional electrophilic reagents as radical sources prompted us further to construct comprehensive radical donor scales of electrophilic F, CF₃, and SCF₃ transfer reagents. We identified a series of potential new radical F, CF₃, and SCF₃ donors. Single electron transfer was found to exhibit a substantial effect on activation of the Y-CF₃/SCF₃ bonds, significantly facilitating the release of CF₃/SCF₃ radicals. This Account summarizes computational and experimental accomplishments from our group and others to establish the missing links between structure and reactivity for these reagents. Our results pave the way toward the rational optimization, design, and prediction of novel electrophilic fluorinating and fluoroalkylating reagents and new reactions.

New frontiers in the transition-metal-free synthesis of heterocycles from alkynoates: an overview and current status

This review highlights the successful utilization of transition-metal-free approaches for the modular assembly of various heterocycles from alkynoates.

Reductant-Induced Free Radical Fluoroalkylation of Nitrogen Heterocycles and Innate Aromatic Amino Acid Residues in Peptides and Proteins

A series of fluoroalkylated cyclic λ³ -iodanes and their hydrochloride salts was prepared and used in a combination with sodium ascorbate in buffer or aqueous methanol mixtures for radical fluoroalkylation of a range of substituted indoles, pyrroles, tryptophan or its derivatives, and Trp residues in peptides. As demonstrated on several peptides, the aromatic amino acid residues of Trp, Tyr, Phe, and His are targeted with high selectivity to Trp. The functionalization method is biocompatible, mild, rapid, and transition-metal-free. The proteins myoglobin, ubiquitin, and human carbonic anhydrase I were also successfully functionalized.

Redox-Neutral Borylation of Aryl Sulfonium Salts via C-S Activation Enabled by Light

Reported here is a novel photoinduced strategy for the borylation of aryl sulfonium salts using bis(pinacolato)diboron as the boron source. This method exploits redox-neutral aryl sulfoniums to gain access to aryl radicals via C-S bond activation upon photoexcitation under transition-metal-free conditions. Therefore, it grants access to diverse arylboronate esters with good performance from easily available aryl sulfoniums accompanied by mild conditions, operational simplicity, and easy scalability.

Photocatalytic hydroacylation of trifluoromethyl alkenes

Hydrofunctionalization of trifluoromethyl alkenes is highly challenging, because the nucleophilic addition is oftentimes followed by β-F elimination in this case. By the use of tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) as a hydrogen-atom-transfer (HAT) photocatalyst for acyl C-H activation, we successfully avoid the β-F elimination in the hydroacylation of trifluoromethyl alkenes with aldehydes. This light (390 nm) promoted reaction provides a facile and efficient access to various β-CF3 ketones in complete regiocontrol with high functionality tolerance and 100% atom economy.

Recent advances in direct trifluoromethylation of olefinic C-H bonds

The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the direct trifluoromethylation of olefinic C-H bonds with special attention on the mechanistic aspects of the reactions. The review is divided into two major sections. The first focuses exclusively on trifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes, while the second will cover trifluoromethylation of internal alkenes. Literature has been surveyed until the end of April 2019.

Cu-Mediated arylselenylation of aryl halides with trifluoromethyl aryl selenonium ylides

An unprecedented arylselenylation of aryl halides with trifluoromethyl aryl selenonium ylides in the presence of copper is described. The reaction proceeded at 100-140 °C under ligand- and additive-free conditions for 3-20 h to form a variety of unsymmetrical diaryl selenides in good to high yields. Arylselenylation is easy to operate, has good functional group tolerance, and demonstrates the different reaction profiles of trifluoromethyl aryl selenonium ylides from the homologous trifluoromethyl aryl sulfonium ylides.

Bond-Forming and -Breaking Reactions at Sulfur(IV): Sulfoxides, Sulfonium Salts, Sulfur Ylides, and Sulfinate Salts

Organosulfur compounds have long played a vital role in organic chemistry and in the development of novel chemical structures and architectures. Prominent among these organosulfur compounds are those involving a sulfur(IV) center, which have been the subject of countless investigations over more than a hundred years. In addition to a long list of textbook sulfur-based reactions, there has been a sustained interest in the chemistry of organosulfur(IV) compounds in recent years. Of particular interest within organosulfur chemistry is the ease with which the synthetic chemist can effect a wide range of transformations through either bond formation or bond cleavage at sulfur. This review aims to cover the developments of the past decade in the chemistry of organic sulfur(IV) molecules and provide insight into both the wide range of reactions which critically rely on this versatile element and the diverse scaffolds that can thereby be synthesized.

Aryltrifluoromethylative cyclization of unactivated alkenes by the use of PhICF3Cl under catalyst-free conditions

A concise and catalyst-free aryltrifluoromethylative cyclization of unactivated alkenes has been developed herein. The use of PhICF3Cl as a powerful trifluoromethylating agent allows easy transformations. A set of trifluoroethylated carbocycles and aza-hereocycles were efficiently synthesized in good yield and selectivity. A broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and easy operation would make this method well-suited for applications.

Progress and prospects in the use of photocatalysis for the synthesis of organofluorine compounds

Data on the synthesis of fluorinated organic compounds by photocatalysis are systematically considered and analyzed. The attention is focused on the mechanisms of photocatalytic reactions and the selectivity problem.

The bibliography includes 173 references.

A Sc(OTf)3 catalyzed Mukaiyama–Mannich reaction of difluoroenoxysilanes with unactivated ketimines

The first example of a Mukaiyama–Mannich reaction of difluoroenoxysilanes with unactivated ketimines catalyzed by Sc(OTf)₃ is described.

Four-component acyloxy-trifluoromethylation of arylalkenes mediated by a photoredox catalyst

A four-component intermolecular trifluoromethylation–acyloxylation of arylalkenes induced by visible light has been developed in the presence of the photoredox catalyst Ru(bpy)₃(PF₆)₂ under mild reaction conditions.

Catalytic selective mono- and difluoroalkylation using fluorinated silyl enol ethers

This feature article highlights our recent achievements in catalytic selective mono- and difluoroalkylation using fluorinated silyl enol ethers (FSEEs).

Trifluoromethylation of Electron-Rich Alkenyl Iodides with Fluoroform-Derived "Ligandless" CuCF3

We herein present a flexible approach for the incorporation of CF₃ units into a predefined site of electron-rich alkenes that exploits the regiocontrolled introduction of an iodine handle and subsequent trifluoromethylation of the C(sp²)-I bond using fluoroform-derived "ligandless" CuCF₃. The broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance together with the scalability and purity of the resulting products enabled the controlled, late-stage synthesis of single regioisomers of complex CF₃-scaffolds, such as sugars, nucleosides (antivirals), and heterocycles (indoles and chromones), with potential for academic and industrial applications.

Metal-free alkene oxy- and amino-perfluoroalkylations via carbocation formation by using perfluoro acid anhydrides: unique reactivity between styrenes and perfluoro diacyl peroxides

A practical metal-free perfluoroalkylation using acid anhydrides with unique reaction mode via carbocation has been developed.

We present a strategy for metal-free, alkene difunctionalization-type, oxy- and amino-perfluoroalkylations, using perfluoro acid anhydrides as practical and user-friendly perfluoroalkyl sources. This method provides efficient access to oxy-perfluoroalkylation products via carbocation formation due to the unique reactivity between styrenes and bis(perfluoroacyl) peroxides generated in situ from perfluoro acid anhydrides. This reaction is also applicable to metal-free intramolecular amino-perfluoroalkylation of styrenes bearing a pendant amino group. Synthetic utility of the oxy-trifluoromethylation products was confirmed by demonstrating derivatization via hydrolysis, elimination, and acid-catalyzed substitution with carbon nucleophiles. The mechanism of the carbocation formation was investigated experimentally and theoretically.

Synthesis of trifluoromethylated 2H-azirines through Togni reagent-mediated trifluoromethylation followed by PhIO-mediated azirination

The reaction of enamine compounds with the Togni reagent in the presence of CuI afforded β-trifluoromethylated enamine intermediates, which were converted directly to biologically interesting trifluoromethylated 2H-azirines by an iodosobenzene (PhIO)-mediated intramolecular azirination in a one-pot process.

Palladium-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck-type reactions of [Ph2SRfn][OTf] with alkenes at room temperature

The first Pd-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck-type reaction of [Ph₂SR_fn][OTf] with alkenes is described. The reaction of [Ph₂SR_fn][OTf] (R_fn = CF₃, CH₂CF₃) with alkenes in the presence of 10 mol% Pd[P(t-Bu)₃]₂ and TsOH at room temperature provided the corresponding phenylation products in good to high yields. The bases that benefit the traditional Mizoroki-Heck reactions severely inhibited the transformation with [Ph₂SR_fn][OTf], whereas acids significantly improved the reaction. This protocol supplies a new class of cross-coupling partners for Mizoroki-Heck-type reactions and gains important insights into the reactivity of phenylsulfonium salts either with or without fluorine-containing alkyl groups as the promising phenylation reagents in organic synthesis.