Palladium-Catalyzed Intermolecular Aryldifluoroalkylation of Alkynes

Chemo-, regio- and stereoselective access to polysubstituted 1,3-dienes via Nickel-catalyzed four-component reactions

1,2-Difunctionalization of alkynes offers a straightforward approach to access polysubstituted alkenes. However, simultaneous multi-component cascade transformations including difunctionalization of two alkynes with both syn- and anti-selectivity in one catalyst system is undeveloped and proves to be a significant challenge. Herein, we report a Nickel-catalyzed four-component reaction to access polysubstituted 1,3-dienes using two terminal alkynes, aryl boroxines, and perfluoroalkyl iodides, wherein the reaction forms three new C-C bonds in a single vessel and serve as a modular strategy to access polysubstituted 1,3-dienes with excellent chemoselectivity, good regioselectivity and exclusive stereoselectivity. Control experiments reveal the plausible reaction mechanism and DFT calculations explain the cause for the formation of this unusual four-component reaction. Furthermore, we successfully incorporate two biologically active units into 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted 1,3-dienes, which greatly increases the diversity of molecular scaffolds and brings more potential values to medicinal chemistry, the synthetic utility of our protocol is further demonstrated by the late-stage transformations.

Visible Light-Induced Copper-Catalyzed Regio- and Stereoselective Difluoroalkylthiocyanation of Alkynes

The first regio- and stereoselective difluoroalkylthiocyanation of alkynes with BrCF2R and KSCN has been disclosed under visible light-induced copper catalysis. The copper complex photosensitizer formed in situ not only promotes the generation of CF2-alkyl radicals but also facilitates the construction of C-SCN bonds, allowing the reaction to proceed smoothly without any additional photocatalysts or radical initiators. Moreover, the challenging internal alkynes can also be transformed to deliver CF2-derived tetrasubstituted olefins with potential applications in agricultural and medicinal chemistry.

Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Fluoroalkylacylation of Alkynes for the Steroselective Synthesis of Fluoroalkylated Enones

A Ni-catalyzed three-component reductive fluoroalkylacylation of alkynes with fluoroalkyl halides and acyl chlorides is presented. This dicarbofunctionalization provides an efficient method for the synthesis of fluoroalkyl-incorporated enones under mild conditions with high yields and excellent regioselectivity and stereoselectivity.

Recent progress in aryltrifluoromethylation reactions of carbon-carbon multiple bonds

Due to the increasing relevance of fluorine-containing organic molecules in drug design, the synthesis of organofluorine compounds has gained high significance in synthetic organic chemistry. Trifluoromethylative difunctionalizations of carbon-carbon multiple bonds, with the simultaneous incorporation of a CF 3 group and another functional element, have considerable potential. Because of the high importance of carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions in organic synthesis, carbotrifluoromethylations and, in particular, aryltrifluoromethylations or heteroaryltrifluoromethylations are considered to be increasing fields of synthetic organic chemistry. The aim of the current review is to summarize recent developments of aryltrifluoromethylation or heteroaryltrifluoromethylation reactions.

Copper-Catalyzed anti-Selective Radical 1,2-Alkylarylation of Terminal Alkynes

A copper-catalyzed highly anti-selective radical 1,2-alkylarylation of terminal alkynes with aryl boronic acids and alkyl bromides has been established. The reaction exhibits high compatibility with a wide range of terminal alkynes and diverse aryl boronic acids, thus providing facile access to various stereodefined trisubstituted alkenes in high yield under mild reaction conditions. Preliminary mechanistic investigations support the formation of alkyl radicals and their subsequent addition to alkynes in the reaction.

Palladium-Catalyzed Cascade Difluoroalkylation and Phosphinoylation of 2-Vinyloxy Arylalkynes: Selective Synthesis of Difluoroalkyl-Containing Tetrasubstituted Alkenylphosphine Oxides

A Pd-catalyzed difluoroalkylation/cyclization/phosphinoylation of 2-vinyloxy arylalkynes with ethyl difluoroiodoacetate and diarylphosphine oxides has been successfully developed. This reaction allows the formation of C_sp3-CF₂, C_sp3-C_sp2, and C_sp2-P(O) bonds in one step, providing a straightforward route to difluoroalkyl-containing tetrasubstituted alkenylphosphine oxides with complete stereoselectivities under mild conditions.

Recent advances in the stereoselective synthesis of acyclic all-carbon tetrasubstituted alkenes

Alkenes bearing four carbon-based groups are ubiquitous motifs in chemical sciences due to their various applications from medicinal to materials chemistry, and as chemical platforms for the synthesis of complex, chiral molecules. As such, tremendous research efforts are currently ongoing in order to develop general procedures for the challenging stereoselective synthesis of all-carbon tetrasubstituted alkenes, especially for acyclic structures. Since classical approaches to carbon-carbon double bonds are not suitable for the high steric demand around tetrasubstituted alkenes, a variety of unique approaches to access these privileged functional groups have been developed in recent years. This review article highlights the most significant developments in the field from 2007 to 2020, with an emphasis on the mechanisms and remaining limitations of these contemporary methods. Specifically, recent advances in internal alkyne carbofunctionalizations, in multicomponent couplings or other cross-couplings from nucleophilic or electrophilic alkenyl partners, and in the development of miscellaneous methods, are discussed.

Metal-Catalyzed Spiroannulation-Fluoromethylfunctionaliztions of 1,5-Enynes for the Synthesis of Stereodefined (Z)-Spiroindenes

Two classes of new catalytic spiroannulation-fluormethylfunctionaliztions of para-quinone methide (p-QM)-containing 1,5-enynes have been established under redox-neutral conditions. Palladium-catalyzed spiroannulation-iododifluoromethylation with ethyl difluoroiodoacetate oriented completely stereoselective access to (Z)-spiroindenes and the latter included copper-catalyzed three-component spiroannulation-cyanotrifluoromethylation starting from Togni's reagent and trimethylsilanecarbonitrile (TMSCN). Both reaction pathways involve fluoroalkyl radical-triggered 1,6-addition/5-exo-dig annulation/metal radical cross-coupling/reductive elimination sequence, providing practical and stereoselective protocols for rapidly constructing cyclohexadienone-containing spiroindenes with generally good yields.

Disulfonation of terminal alkynes for 1,2-bisulfonylethenes

A highly efficient and operationally simple method for the synthesis of 1,2-disulfonylethenes involving a hypervalent iodineI(iii) reagent to promote disulfonation of terminal alkynes has been developed. This protocol provides a facile and practical pathway to selectively access (E)-1,2-disulfonylethenes that features good functional group compatibility, easily available starting materials, excellent stereoselectivity, and good yields.

Ni-Catalyzed Reductive Antiarylative Cyclization of Alkynones

A new catalyst system for the antiarylative cyclization of alkynones and aryl halides through a reductive cross-coupling strategy is developed. The transformation proceeds smoothly in the absence of organometallic reagents and features high functional group tolerance. This method provides an effective platform to access a wide variety of synthetically useful endocyclic tetrasubstituted allylic alcohols in a stereoselective manner.

Copper-Catalyzed Disulfonation of Terminal Alkynes with Sodium Arylsulfinates

A novel and direct disulfonylation reaction of commercially available terminal alkynes under copper(I)/bromodifluoroacetate cocatalyst has been realized. This protocol provides a facile and practical pathway to selectively access (E)-1,2-disulfonylethenes, in which features good functional group compatibility, easily available starting materials, and excellent stereoselectivity with good yields.

The Persistent Radical Effect in Organic Synthesis

Radical-radical couplings are mostly nearly diffusion-controlled processes. Therefore, the selective cross-coupling of two different radicals is challenging and not a synthetically valuable transformation. However, if the radicals have different lifetimes and if they are generated at equal rates, cross-coupling will become the dominant process. This high cross-selectivity is based on a kinetic phenomenon called the persistent radical effect (PRE). In this Review, an explanation of the PRE supported by simulations of simple model systems is provided. Radical stabilities are discussed within the context of their lifetimes, and various examples of PRE-mediated radical-radical couplings in synthesis are summarized. It is shown that the PRE is not restricted to the coupling of a persistent with a transient radical. If one coupling partner is longer-lived than the other transient radical, the PRE operates and high cross-selectivity is achieved. This important point expands the scope of PRE-mediated radical chemistry. The Review is divided into two parts, namely 1) the coupling of persistent or longer-lived organic radicals and 2) "radical-metal crossover reactions"; here, metal-centered radical species and more generally longer-lived transition-metal complexes that are able to react with radicals are discussed-a field that has flourished recently.

gem-Difluoroallylation of Aryl Diazoesters via Catalyst-Free, Blue-Light-Mediated Formal Doyle-Kirmse Reaction

A first example of low-energy blue-light-mediated formal Doyle-Kirmse reaction for gem-difluoroallylation of aryl diazoesters has been developed. A variety of highly functionalized gem-difluoroallyl containing esters bearing transformable sulfur and bromine groups were efficiently assembled with broad substrate scope under mild, catalyst-free, and additive-free conditions. The reaction represents a practical and environmentally friendly approach for C-CF₂ bond formation based on rearrangement strategy, which will find potential applications among drug discovery and development.

Copper-mediated cascade radical cyclization of olefins with naphthalenyl iododifluoromethyl ketones

Copper-mediated radical cyclization of naphthalenyl iododifluoromethyl ketones with olefins was developed to generate a series of unprecedented gem-difluorodihydrophenanthrenones with excellent regioselectivity.

Synthesis of tri-substituted allyl alcohols via a copper/iron co-catalyzed cascade perfluoroalkylation/rearrangement of aryl propynyl ethers

A copper/iron co-catalyzed fluoroalkylation of aryl propynyl ethers for the synthesis of perfluoroalkylated tri-substituted allyl alcohol derivatives is reported.

Synthesis of Difluoroalkyl Unsaturated β-Amino Acid Derivatives Exclusively through Alkyne Difunctionalization

Alkynes difunctionalization is a powerful strategy in organic synthesis that provides a convenient synthetic entry for internal alkenes. The main challenge in this field was considered to be the geometry control of the newly formed double bond (thermodynamically controlled or kinetically controlled). Herein, we report a novel procedure (through the cyclic compounds broken) to completely control the regioselectivity of olefins. The products, difluoroalkyl unsaturated β-amino acid derivatives, have potential applications in some important pharmaceuticals on account of the special nature of fluorine atoms.

Organic amine-mediated free-radical carbocyclization reactions of 2,2,2-trihalogeno-substituted N-(2-alkynylphenyl)acetamides

An efficient method for the synthesis of 3-halogeno-substituted 4-benzoylquinolin-2-(1H)-ones from N-(2-alkynylphenyl)-substituted trihaloacetamides has been developed, in which organic amines (TNPA and DIEA) act as the electron donors. In this carbocyclization reaction, a new C-C bond formation occurred regioselectively via a 6-exo-dig radical cyclization. A variety of useful functional groups are compatible with the reaction conditions. In this process, readily removable organic amines were employed and no heavy metal catalysts were required.

Three-component difluoroalkylation and trifluoromethylthiolation/trifluoromethylselenolation of π-bonds

This report describes a new method for three-component difluoroalkylation and trifluoromethylthiolation/trifluoromethylselenolation of π-bonds via air-stable SCF₃ and SeCF₃ reagents as free-radical initiators of ethyl iododifluoroacetate. β-Proton elimination can be overcome effectively in this reaction system, and a broad substrate scope, including alkenes and alkynes, makes this approach practical and attractive.

Copper-catalyzed difluoromethylation of propargylamide-substituted indoles: synthesis of mono- and bis-difluoromethylated indoloazepinone derivatives

A novel copper-catalyzed difluoromethylation of 2- or 3-propargylamide-substituted indoles with ICF2CO2Et via a radical cascade cyclization process is described. A wide substrate scope is compatible with the reaction conditions to synthesize mono- and bis-difluoromethylated indoloazepinone derivatives, which contain a seven-membered ring.