Trifluoromethylthiolation of aromatic substrates using thiophosgene—fluoride salt reagents, and formation of byproducts with multi-carbon chains

Synthesis of Thiazole-2(3H)-ones via [3,3]-Sigmatropic Rearrangement/5-exo-dig Cyclization of N-Propargylamines

An efficient methodology has been developed for the synthesis of both di- and trisubstituted thiazol-2(3H)-ones from N-propargylamines and silver(I) trifluoromethanethiolate (AgSCF₃) in good yields. The reaction proceeds via [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement/5-exo-dig cyclization of N-propargylamines. The starting material can be easily prepared from the A³-coupling reaction of amines, aldehydes, and alkynes. The methodology can be extended for the synthesis of thiozole-2(3H)-thione derivatives, and photophysical properties have been studied for some synthesized compounds.

Direct Trifluoromethylthiolation of Aziridines: Cation-Controlled Diverse Synthesis of Trifluoromethylthiolated Isothiocyanates and Amines

The direct trifluoromethylthiolation of aziridines with AgSCF₃ and iodides is reported. The β-trifluoromethylthiolated isothiocyanates and amines were selectively obtained by the changed cation of iodide. This strategy is tolerant to a wide range of functional groups with good yields and regioselectivities. In addition, the isothiocyanates can be used for further synthetic manipulation, which offered a convenient approach for SCF₃-containing compounds.

Tetramethylammonium Fluoride: Fundamental Properties and Applications in C-F Bond-Forming Reactions and as a Base

Nucleophilic ionic sources of fluoride are essential reagents in the synthetic toolbox to access high added-value fluorinated building blocks unattainable by other means. In this review, we provide a concise description and rationale of the outstanding features of one of these reagents, tetramethylammonium fluoride (TMAF), as well as disclosing the different methods for its preparation, and how its physicochemical properties and solvation effects in different solvents are intimately associated with its reactivity. Furthermore, herein we also comprehensively describe its historic and recent utilization, up to December 2021, in C-F bond-forming reactions with special emphasis on nucleophilic aromatic substitution fluorinations with a potential sustainable application in industrial settings, as well as its use as a base capable of rendering unprecedented transformations.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Isothiocyanates Using Elemental Sulfur

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are biologically active molecules found in several natural products and pharmaceutical ingredients. Moreover, due to their high and versatile reactivity, they are widely used as intermediates in organic synthesis. This review considers the best practices for the synthesis of ITCs using elemental sulfur, highlighting recent developments. First, we summarize the in situ generation of thiocarbonyl surrogates followed by their transformation in the presence of primary amines leading to ITCs. Second, carbenes and amines afford isocyanides, and the further reaction of this species with sulfur readily generates ITCs under thermal, catalytic or basic conditions. Additionally, we also reveal that in the catalyst-free reaction of isocyanides and sulfur, two—until this time overlooked and not investigated—different mechanistic pathways exist.

Thiocarbamoyl Fluoride Synthesis by Deconstructive Diversification of Arylated Tetrahydroisoquinolines

Deconstructive functionalization of cyclic amines can provide access to chemicals with diverse skeletons. We report the conversion of tertiary amines to thiocarbamoyl fluorides, a reaction enabled by photoredox catalysis and tolerating different functional groups while avoiding strong oxidants. A one-pot synthetic method from tertiary amines and AgF has been developed to get access to trifluoromethylamines. The synthesized thiocarbamoyl fluorides can be further transferred into esters.

Deoxygenative Tri- and Difluoromethylthiolation of Carboxylic Acids with Benzothiazolium Reagents

Deoxygenative syntheses of fluorinated thioesters directly from carboxylic acids have been developed employing benzothiazolium reagents. The process using BT-SCF₃ represents an attractive approach toward these SCF₃-containing compounds that avoids the use of metal ^-SCF₃ salts or preactivated acyl electrophiles. Moreover, the in situ activation of BT-SCF₂H allows for an unprecedented nucleophilic difluoromethylthiolation reaction. DFT calculations support a mechanistic scenario involving a four-membered transition state where acyl substitution occurs without the formation of an unstable free ^-SCF₂H anion.

Synthesis of Thiocarbamoyl Fluorides and Isothiocyanates Using Amines with CF3SO2Cl

A practical and efficient method to synthesize thiocarbamyl fluorides and isothiocyanates from amines with trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride was developed. In the presence of the reducing agent triphenylphosphine and sodium iodide, thiocarbamyl fluorides and isothiocyanates were synthesized from secondary/primary amine in moderate to excellent yields, respectively. A broad scope of substrates and good functional group compatibility were observed.

Synthesis of Thiocarbamoyl Fluorides and Isothiocyanates Using CF3SiMe3 and Elemental Sulfur or AgSCF3 and KBr with Amines

Reactions of thiocarbonyl fluoride derived from cheap, readily available, and widely used CF₃SiMe₃, elemental sulfur, and KF with secondary amines and primary amines at room temperature in THF provided a wide variety of thiocarbamoyl fluorides and isothiocyanates in moderate to excellent yields, respectively. The two reactions show broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance. Moreover, AgSCF₃ reacts with secondary/primary amines under KBr at room temperature, affording quantitative thiocarbamoyl fluorides/isothiocyanates, which feature late-stage application.

Nickel-catalyzed aryl trifluoromethyl sulfide synthesis: a DFT study

A Ni(i)/Ni(iii) catalytic cycle allows aryl trifluoromethyl sulfides to be obtained at room temperature from [NMe₄][SCF₃] and aryl halides.

Direct Synthesis of Acyl Fluorides from Carboxylic Acids with the Bench-Stable Solid Reagent (Me4N)SCF3

A convenient, highly efficient, and selective transformation of aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids to acyl fluorides is reported. In contrast to established approaches that require toxic or volatile additives and base and reaction control (i.e., cooling, slow addition), this protocol allows for a straightforward access to various R-COF entities upon direct reaction with the bench-stable, solid reagent (Me₄N)SCF₃ at room temperature. The method is base- and additive-free, compatible with late-stage synthetic applications, high functional group tolerance, and facile target compound purification via filtration.

Late stage trifluoromethylthiolation strategies for organic compounds

Substitution by the CF3S group allows for an increase in lipophilicity and electron-withdrawing properties along with an improvement in the bioavailability of medicinal targets; consequently, the late stage introduction of CF3S moieties into medicinal scaffolds is a sought-after strategy in synthetic organic chemistry. Different newly-developed electrophilic and nucleophilic reagents are used to effect the trifluoromethylthiolation of (hetero)aromatic compounds, aliphatic compounds (alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl substrates), the trifluoromethylthiolation at the α- and β-carbonyl positions, and heteroatoms (N- and S-). Such reactions can involve homolytic substitutions, or functional-group substitutions (ipso). Addition reactions of electrophilic reagents to double and triple bonds followed by ring-cyclizations will be shown to yield relevant CF3S-substituted heteroaromatic compounds with relevant pharmacological action.

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of 2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzoxathioles(selenoles) and their insecticidal activities: the selenium effect

A copper-catalyzed synthesis of 2,2-difluoro-1,3-benzoxathioles(selenoles) was developed. Some of the title compounds exhibited excellent insecticidal activities.

Synthesis of Isothiocyanates and Unsymmetrical Thioureas with the Bench-Stable Solid Reagent (Me4N)SCF3

A highly efficient, selective, and rapid transformation of primary amines and diamines to isothiocyanates and cyclic thioureas is disclosed. As opposed to established approaches that employ toxic or volatile electrophilic liquids and require reaction control (i.e., slow addition, cooling), this protocol utilizes the bench-stable, solid reagent (Me₄N)SCF₃ at room temperature. The method is characterized by operational simplicity, high speed, efficiency, high functional group tolerance, and late-stage applicability. The byproducts are solids, allowing isolation of the target compounds by filtration.

When Weaker Can Be Tougher: The Role of Oxidation State (I) in P- vs N-Ligand-Derived Ni-Catalyzed Trifluoromethylthiolation of Aryl Halides

The direct introduction of the valuable SCF3 moiety into organic molecules has received considerable attention. While it can be achieved successfully for aryl chlorides under catalysis with Ni0(cod)2 and dppf, this report investigates the Ni-catalyzed functionalization of the seemingly more reactive aryl halides ArI and ArBr. Counterintuitively, the observed conversion triggered by dppf/Ni0 is ArCl > ArBr > ArI, at odds with bond strength preferences. By a combined computational and experimental approach, the origin of this was identified to be due to the formation of (dppf)NiI, which favors β-F elimination as a competing pathway over the productive cross-coupling, ultimately generating the inactive complex (dppf)Ni(SCF2) as a catalysis dead end. The complexes (dppf)NiI-Br and (dppf)NiI-I were isolated and resolved by X-ray crystallography. Their formation was found to be consistent with a ligand-exchange-induced comproportionation mechanism. In stark contrast to these phosphine-derived Ni complexes, the corresponding nitrogen-ligand-derived species were found to be likely competent catalysts in oxidation state I. Our computational studies of N-ligand derived NiI complexes fully support productive NiI/NiIII catalysis, as the competing β-F elimination is disfavored. Moreover, N-derived NiI complexes are predicted to be more reactive than their Ni0 counterparts in catalysis. These data showcase fundamentally different roles of NiI in carbon-heteroatom bond formation depending on the ligand sphere.

Efficient Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl Amines through a Formal Umpolung Strategy from the Bench-Stable Precursor (Me4 N)SCF3

Reported herein is the one-pot synthesis of trifluoromethylated amines at room temperature using the bench-stable (Me4 N)SCF3 reagent and AgF. The method is rapid, operationally simple and highly selective. It proceeds via a formal umpolung reaction of the SCF3 with the amine, giving quantitative formation of thiocarbamoyl fluoride intermediates within minutes that can readily be transformed to N-CF3 . The mildness and high functional group tolerance render the method highly attractive for the late-stage introduction of trifluoromethyl groups on amines, as demonstrated herein for a range of pharmaceutically relevant drug molecules.

Synthesis of 3-fluoroalkenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-2-oxindoles by the reaction of indoline-2,3-diones with difluoromethylene phosphabetaine

An unprecedent reaction of indoline-2,3-diones and (triphenylphosphonio)difluoroacetate (PDFA) afforded novel 3-fluoroalkenyl-3-trifluoromethyl-2-oxindoles in moderate to excellent yields. These products could be transformed into other trifluoromethylated oxindole derivatives.

Direct catalytic trifluoromethylthiolation of boronic acids and alkynes employing electrophilic shelf-stable N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide

A new and safe method for the synthesis of N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide, a convenient and shelf-stable reagent for the direct trifluoromethylthiolation, has been developed. N-(Trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide can be used as an electrophilic source of F3 CS(+) and reacts readily with boronic acids and alkynes under copper catalysis. The utility of CF3 S-containing molecules as biologically active agents, the mild reaction conditions employed, and the high tolerance of functional groups demonstrate the potential of this new methodology to be widely applied in organic synthesis as well as industrial pharmaceutical and agrochemical research and development.

Copper-promoted sulfenylation of sp2 C-H bonds

An auxiliary-assisted, copper catalyzed or promoted sulfenylation of benzoic acid derivative β-C-H bonds and benzylamine derivative γ-C-H bonds has been developed. The method employs disulfide reagents, copper(II) acetate, and DMSO solvent at 90-130 °C. Application of this methodology to the direct trifluoromethylsulfenylation of C-H bonds was demonstrated.