Metal-Free Synthesis of (E)-Monofluoroenamine from 1-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole and Et2O·BF3 via Stereospecific Fluorination of α-Diazoimine

BF3-Promoted Ring Expansion of Iminylphosphiranes and Acylphosphiranes for Divergent Access to 1,2-Azaphospholidines and 1,2-Dihydrophosphetes

Ring expansion of strained small rings provides an efficient method for the synthesis of various high-value carbocycles and heterocycles. Here we report BF3·Et2O as both an activating reagent and fluorine source, enabling ring expansion of phosphirane and P-F bond formation. Treatment of 1-iminylphosphirane complexes with BF3·Et2O resulted in 1,2-azaphospholidines, while the reaction of 1-acylphosphirane complexes with BF3·Et2O afforded 1,2-dihydrophosphetes. The reaction path was tuned by the nucleophilicity of the N and O atoms toward the intermediate phosphenium cation.

NH-1,2,3-triazoles as versatile building blocks in denitrogenative transformations

The utilization of NH-1,2,3-triazoles as easily accessible building blocks in denitrogenative ring cleavage transformations with electrophiles to provide multifunctionalized nitrogen heterocycles and N-alkenyl compounds is reviewed. Leveraging the ready availability of NH-1,2,3-triazoles, these processes provide a convenient route to a range of pharmaceutically relevant heterocyclic cores and N-alkenyl compounds. The synthetic usefulness of in situ acylated NH-1,2,3-triazoles as viable alternatives to widely explored N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles in ring cleavage processes is highlighted.

Different Performances of BF3, BCl3, and BBr3 in Hypervalent Iodine-Catalyzed Halogenations

Herein, hypervalent iodine-catalyzed halogenation of aryl-activated alkenes using BX₃ (X = Cl, Br) as the halogen source and activating reagents was reported. Various halogenated 1,3-oxazine/2-oxazoline derivatives were obtained in good-to-high yields. Using BF₃ resulted in different substitute sites from BBr₃ and BCl₃ of the products, indicating different reactive intermediates and reaction pathways. The reaction underwent a "ligand coupling/oxidative addition/intermolecular nucleophilic attack/1,2-aryl migration/reductive elimination/intramolecular nucleophilic attack" cascade when BF₃ was applied as the halogen source, while 1,2-aryl migration has "disappeared" when the halogen source was BBr₃ or BCl₃. Possible catalytic cycles were proposed, and DFT calculations were conducted to demonstrate the differences among BX₃ (X = F, Cl, Br) in the hypervalent iodine-catalyzed halogenations.

Synthesis of N-vinyl isothiocyanates and carbamates by the cleavage of NH-1,2,3-triazoles with one-carbon electrophiles

Metal-free cascade reaction of NH-1,2,3-triazoles with one-carbon electrophiles, such as thiophosgene and triphosgene, led to N-vinylated ring cleavage products. Using this approach the synthesis of N-vinylisothiocyanates from NH-triazoles and thiophosgene was achieved. A variety of multifunctional compounds, such as N-vinylcarbamates, unsymmetrical vinylureas, carbamothioates, etc. was prepared by a one-pot method from NH-triazoles, triphosgene and nucleophiles.

Cp*Co(III)-Catalyzed Selective C8-Olefination and Oxyarylation of Quinoline N-Oxides with Terminal Alkynes

Herein we report Cp*Co(III)-catalyzed site-selective (C8)-H olefination and oxyarylation of quinoline N-oxides with terminal alkynes. The selectivity for C8-olefination and oxyarylation is sterically and electronically controlled. In the case of quinoline N-oxides (unsubstituted at the C2 position), only the olefination product was obtained irrespective of the nature of the alkynes. In contrast, oxyarylation was observed exclusively when 2-substituted quinoline N-oxides were reacted with 9-ethynylphenanthrene. However, alkynes with electron-withdrawing groups provided only olefination products with 2-substituted quinoline N-oxides. The developed strategy allowed a facile functionalization of quinoline N-oxides bearing natural molecules and an estrone-derived terminal alkyne to deliver the corresponding olefinated and oxyarylated products. To understand the reaction mechanism, control experiments, deuterium-labeling experiments, and kinetic isotope effect (KIE) studies were performed.

Catalytic Synthesis of 5-Fluoro-2-oxazolines: Using BF3·Et2O as the Fluorine Source and Activating Reagent

Hypervalent iodine catalyst-catalyzed nucleophilic fluorination of unsaturated amides using BF₃·Et₂O as the fluorine source and activating reagent was reported. Various 5-fluoro-2-oxazoline derivatives were synthesized in good to excellent yields (up to 95% isolated yield) within 10 min. The process was efficient and metal-free under mild conditions. A mechanism involving a fluorination/1,2-aryl migration/cyclization cascade was proposed on the basis of previous work and experimental results.

One-pot synthesis of 4-substituted 2-fluoroalkyloxazoles from NH-1,2,3-triazoles and fluoroalkylated acid anhydrides

An efficient one-pot method for the synthesis of 2-fluoroalkyloxazoles from 4-substituted NH-1,2,3-triazoles, fluorinated anhydrides and triethylamine was developed.

Acid-catalyzed ring-expansion of 4-(1-hydroxycyclobutyl)-1,2,3-triazoles

A direct ring-opening/semipinacol rearrangement reaction catalyzed by the Brønsted acid of 4-(1-hydroxycyclobutyl)-1,2,3-triazole is reported, in which the usage of metal catalysts and the reservation of sulfonyl groups are avoided.

Access to (Z)-β-Substituted Enamides from N1-H-1,2,3-Triazoles

A direct ring-opening/nucleophilic substitution reaction of N1-H-1,2,3-triazoles has been described. Divergent (Z)-β-halogen- or sulfonyl-substituted enamides could be stereospecifically synthesized in a tunable manner. This strategy might not only enable a new ring-opening method of N1-H-1,2,3-triazoles under nonmetal catalysis and mild reaction conditions but also offer a good opportunity to reliably access versatile (Z)-β-substituted enamides that could be used as synthetic precursors for further synthetic transformations.

Catalytic asymmetric nucleophilic fluorination using BF3·Et2O as fluorine source and activating reagent

Fluorination using chiral catalytic methods could result in a direct access to asymmetric fluorine chemistry. However, challenges in catalytic asymmetric fluorinations, especially the longstanding stereochemical challenges existed in BF₃·Et₂O-based fluorinations, have not yet been addressed. Here we report the catalytic asymmetric nucleophilic fluorination using BF₃·Et₂O as the fluorine reagent in the presence of chiral iodine catalyst. Various chiral fluorinated oxazine products were obtained with good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to >99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (up to >20:1 dr). Control experiments (the desired fluoro-oxazines could not be obtained when Py·HF or Et₃N·3HF were employed as the fluorine source) indicated that BF₃·Et₂O acted not only as a fluorine reagent but also as the activating reagent for activation of iodosylbenzene.

Catalytic asymmetric fluorination remains elusive, especially the longstanding stereochemical challenges which exist in BF₃Et₂O-based fluorinations. Here the authors show a catalytic asymmetric nucleophilic fluorination using BF₃·Et₂O as the fluorine reagent in the presence of chiral iodine catalyst.

Stereoselective Synthesis of (Z)-β-Enamido Fluorides from N-Fluoroalkyl- and N-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles

A reaction of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole with boron trifluoride etherate afforded a (Z)-β-ensulfonylamido fluoride instead of the previously erroneously assigned E isomer. The correction of the stereochemistry was based on a ge-1D ROESY NMR experiment and X-ray crystal structure analyses. Application of the reaction to N-fluoroalkyl-1,2,3-triazoles afforded new (Z)-β-enamido fluorides in a stereoselective manner. A mechanism involving coordination of BF₃ with the triazole ring and vinyl diazonium and vinyl cation intermediates was proposed.

Domino Construction of Benzoxazole-Derived Sulfonamides via Metal-Free Denitrogenation of 5-Iodo-1,2,3-triazoles in the Presence of SO2 and Amines

A straightforward domino approach to assemble benzoxazole-derived sulfonamides has been developed. The method is based on annulation-induced in situ generation of diazo compounds from readily available 2-(5-iodo-1,2,3-triazolyl)phenols, followed by metal-free denitrogenative transformation upon the action of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis(sulfur dioxide) (DABSO) and amines. The protocol is operationally simple and features a broad substrate scope, furnishing a library of target compounds in generally good yields.

Assembly of Thiosubstituted Benzoxazoles via Copper-Catalyzed Coupling of Thiols with 5-Iodotriazoles Serving as Diazo Surrogates

An efficient cascade approach to thiosubstituted benzoxazoles has been developed. The transformation starts with in situ generation of a diazo compound via annulation-triggered electrocyclic opening of the 1,2,3-triazole ring. The subsequent Cu-catalyzed trapping of diazo intermediates by various thiols affords the desired heterocycles in generally good yields of up to 91%. The protocol features very good functional group tolerance and is applicable to substrates with different electronic properties.

TMSCl-Catalyzed Tandem Reaction of Dihydroisobenzofuran Acetals with Indoles

A TMSCl-catalyzed tandem reaction of dihydroisobenzofuran acetals with indoles has been developped, which could provide an efficient and straightforward access to various tetrahydroisoquinolones in moderate to excellent yields. This process involved the first addition of the indoles to acetals, followed by skeletal rearrangement.

Efficient synthesis of cyclic amidine-based fluorophores via 6π-electrocyclic ring closure

Novel 10π-electron cyclic amidines with excellent fluorescence properties were synthesized by a general and efficient 6π-electrocyclic ring closure of ketenimine and imine starting from N-sulfonyl triazoles and arylamines. The photophysical properties of cyclic amidine fluorophores have been studied in detail and have shown good properties of a large Stokes shift, pH insensitivity, low cytotoxicity and higher photostability, which have great potential for biological imaging. Furthermore, this novel fluorophore was successfully applied to the localization of the NK-1 receptor in living systems.

Novel 10π-electron cyclic amidines with excellent fluorescence properties were synthesized by a general and efficient 6π-electrocyclic ring closure of ketenimine and imine starting from N-sulfonyl triazoles and arylamines.

Synthesis of α-cyano sulfone via thermal rearrangement of 1,4-disubstituted triazole mediated by carbene and radical species

α-Cyano sulfone is produced conveniently from 1,4-disubstituted triazole, which involves carbene, ketenimine and radical species as the key intermediates.

Synthesis of α-aminoketones from N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles via N-sulfinyl imines generated by intramolecular oxygen transfer

A sulfinyl imine was generated by intramolecular oxygen transfer of an α-iminocarbene, which led to an α-aminoketone via nucleophilic addition and oxidation.

Metal-free synthesis of imidazole by BF3·Et2O promoted denitrogenative transannulation of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole

The first BF₃·Et₂O promoted metal-free denitrogenative transannulation of N-sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazole was reported, leading to the synthesis of functionalized imidazoles with a broad scope.