Deconstructive Functionalizations of Unstrained Carbon-Nitrogen Cleavage Enabled by Difluorocarbene

Difluorocarbene-induced [1,2]- and [2,3]-Stevens rearrangement of tertiary amines

The [1,2]- and [2,3]-Stevens rearrangements are one of the most fascinating chemical bond reorganization strategies in organic chemistry, and they have been demonstrated in a wide range of applications, representing a fundamental reaction tactic for the synthesis of nitrogen compounds in chemical community. However, their applicabilities are limited by the scarcity of efficient, general, and straightforward methods for generating ammonium ylides. Herein, we report a general difluorocarbene-induced tertiary amine-involved [1,2]- and [2,3]-Stevens rearrangements stemmed from in situ generated difluoromethyl ammonium ylides, which allows for the rearrangements of versatile tertiary amines bearing either allyl, benzyl, or propargyl groups, resulting in the corresponding products in one reaction under the same reaction conditions with a general way. Broad substrate scope, simple operation, mild reaction conditions and late-stage modification of natural products highlight the advantages of this strategy, meanwhile, this general rearrangement reaction is believed to bring opportunities for the transformations of nitrogen ylides and the assembly of valuable tertiary amines and amino acids. This will further enrich the reaction repertoire of difluorocarbene species, facilitate the development of reactions involving difluoromethyl ammonium salts, and provide an avenue for the development of this type of rearrangement reactions.

Difluorocarbene Enables Access to 2,2-Difluorohydrobenzofurans and 2-Fluorobenzofurans from ortho-Vinylphenols

2-Fluorobenzofurans are the backbone structures of many drug molecules and have many potential therapeutic bioactivities. Despite the potential applications in medicinal chemistry, practical and efficient synthetic methods for the construction of 2-fluorobenzofuran are very limited. Herein, we report an efficient and general method for the construction of 2-fluorobenzofurans. Contrary to the previous functionalizations of the existing backbone of benzofuran, our strategy directly constructs benzofuran scaffolds alongside the incorporation of fluorine atom on C2 position in a formal [4 + 1] cyclization from readily accessible ortho-vinylphenols and difluorocarbene. In our strategy, ClCF2H decomposes into difluorocarbene in the presence of base, which is further captured by the oxygen anion from the hydroxy group in ortho-hydroxychalcones; subsequent intramolecular Michael addition to the α, β-unsaturated system leads to 2,2-difluorohydrobenzofurans, and further fluorine elimination renders 2-fluorobenzofurans by forming one C-O bond and one C-C double bond. Of note, various complex 2,2-difluorohydrobenzofurans and 2-fluorobenzofurans could be readily accessed through our protocol via the late-stage elaborations.

Highly Stereoselective Synthesis of Multisubstituted Olefins from Alkynyl Tetracoordinate Borons and Iodonium Ylides via a Cyclic Intermediate

We developed an intriguing and practical strategy for highly stereoselective assembly of multisubstituted olefins from alkynyl tetracoordinate boron species via a cyclic intermediate with 1,2-phenyl migration. We also developed a general method for the construction of deuterated trisubstituted alkenes from a cheap deuteration source, D2O, and the corresponding deuterated trisubstituted alkenes were obtained with excellent deuteration rates. This transformation features a novel reaction mechanism, exclusive stereoselectivity, and deuterated trisubstituted alkenes with excellent deuteration ratios.

Deconstructive annulation mediated one-pot synthesis of xanthene derivatives

Direct conversion of naphthoxazines to diverse xanthene derivatives was achieved under one-pot operation through deconstructive annulation methodology. Sequential oxidative C(sp3)-O/C(sp3)-N cleavage followed by intramolecular/intermolecular annulation reaction was carried out under aerobic reaction conditions. Mechanistic analyses performed on the substrate revealed that the C(sp3)-O bond cleavage supersedes the C(sp3)-N bond scission. The in situ generated Betti base intermediate through the C(sp3)-O cleavage was successfully isolated. Based on a molecular docking investigation, the intermolecular annulated products demonstrated good α-glucosidase inhibitory properties.

N-Heterocycle-Editing to Access Fused-BN-Heterocycles via Ring-Opening/C-H Borylation/Reductive C-B Bond Formation

Skeletal editing of N-heterocycles has recently received considerable attention, and the introduction of boron atom into heterocycles often results in positive property changes. However, direct enlargement of N-heterocycles through boron atom insertion is rarely reported in the literature. Here, we report a N-heterocyclic editing reaction through the combination boron atom insertion and C-H borylation, accessing the fused-BN-heterocycles. The synthetic potential of this chemistry was demonstrated by substrate scope and late-stage diversification of products.

Intramolecular Carboamination of Aminodienes to N-Heterocycles via C-N Bond Activation

The catalytic transformation of ubiquitous but inert C-N bonds is highly appealing in synthetic chemistry, but the efficient cleaving inert C-N bond and simultaneous incorporation of both the cleaved C-moiety and N-moiety into the desired products has been a long-standing formidable challenge so far. Here, we developed a radical-addition triggered cyclization and C-N bond cleavage process enabled by the unique I2 /Ni or benzyl halide/Ni-catalytic system, allowing the formal insertion of diene into the inert C-N bond. This reaction features high atom economy and enables an expedient annulative carboamination of aminodienes to diverse pyrrolidines, piperidines, and tetrahydroisoquinolines. Mechanistic studies have revealed that the reaction is initiated via the generation of a benzyl radical and the formation of quaternary ammonium salt is key for the C-N bond cleavage.

Palladium-Catalyzed Difluorocarbene Transfer Enabled Divergent Synthesis of γ-Butenolides and Ynones from Iodobenzene and Terminal Alkynes

Herein, we report a ligand-controlled palladium-catalyzed method that enables the synthesis of ynones and γ-butenolides with excellent regioselectivity from the same set of readily available aryl iodides, aryl acetylenes, and BrCF2CO2K. In this reaction, the [PdII]═CF2 does demonstrate electrophilicity and can generate CO readily when reacting with H2O. It is environmentally friendly and safe compared to traditional methods, and the current protocol enables us to afford ynones and γ-butenolides in high yields with excellent functionality tolerance. Moreover, esters can also be obtained with corresponding phenols and alcohols utilizing this strategy. The success of late-stage functionalization of bioactive compounds further illustrates the synthetic utility of this protocol in material development and drug discovery.

Short, Scalable Access to Pyrrovobasine

A concise gram-scale synthesis of pyrrovobasine (1) is reported. Key transformations include a three-step decagram-scale synthesis of the tetracyclic compound, Mn-mediated direct radical cyclization, and the introduction of a naturally rare pyrraline structure. The synthesis is designed to be applicable to gram-scale synthesis using inexpensive and readily available reagents.

Visible-Light-Induced Desaturative β-Alkoxyoxalylation of N-Aryl Cyclic Amines with Difluoromethyl Bromides and H2O Via a Triple Cleavage Process

A visible-light-driven desaturative β-alkoxyoxalyation of N-aryl cyclic amines with difluoromethyl bromides and H2O has been reported. This tandem reaction is triggered by homolysis of the C-Br bond to produce the difuoroalkyl radical, which undergoes the subsequent defluorinated β-alkoxyoxalylation cascades to afford a wide range of β-ketoester/ketoamides substituted enamines. The prominent feature of this reaction contains photocatalyst-free, transition-metal free, and mild conditions. The 18O labeling experiment disclosed that H2O is the oxygen source of the carbonyl unit.

Oxoammonium salt-promoted diverse functionalization of saturated cyclic amines with dinucleophiles

Oxoammonium salt-promoted diverse functionalization of saturated cyclic amines with different dinucleophiles under mild conditions is presented. Specifically, when thiocyanate is used as a 1,3-dinucleophile, hexahydrothiazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-2(3H)-one derivatives are formed via the formation of the β-TEMPO-tethered cyclic iminium ion as a key intermediate. By contrast, when benzene-1,2-diamine is used as a 1,4-dinucleophile, 2-alkylquinoxaline derivatives are afforded via generation of the β-oxo cyclic iminium ion as a key intermediate. In addition, the usefulness of 2-alkylquinoxalines is showcased through their facile conversion into N-(2-oxo-2-(quinoxalin-2-yl)ethyl)nitrous amides featuring the synthetically useful N-NO moiety and the carbonyl group.

Deconstructive Functionalization of Unstrained Cycloalkanols via Electrochemically Generated Aromatic Radical Cations

Herein we report an electrochemical approach for the deconstructive functionalization of cycloalkanols, where various alcohols, carboxylic acids, and N-heterocycles are employed as nucleophiles. The method has been demonstrated across a broad range of cycloalkanol substrates, including various ring sizes and substituents, to access useful remotely functionalized ketone products (36 examples). The method was demonstrated on a gram scale via single-pass continuous flow, which exhibited increased productivity in relation to the batch process.

Unconventional Transformations of Difluorocarbene with Amines and Ethers

ConspectusFluorine-containing compounds are extensively involved in various fields originating from intriguing and unique characteristics of fluorine atom; notably, in pharmaceuticals, the involvement of a fluorine atom or a fluorine-containing group is a chief technique for improving the pesticide effect and developing new drugs. Difluorocarbene, one of the most important and powerful fluorine-containing reagents, is widely employed and studied in many areas mainly to assemble gem-difluoromethyl molecules, including but not limited to the abundant reactions between difluorocarbene with nucleophilic substrates, Wittig reaction with ketones or aldehydes, cascade reaction with both a nucleophile and an electrophile, or [2+1] cycloaddition with alkenes or alkynes. However, its unconventional and intriguing protocols beyond as a difluoromethyl synthon have rarely been studied, and thus, it is highly desired given its abundance, inexpensiveness and peculiar properties. In this Account, we mainly discuss our discovery with unconventional transformations of difluorocarbene, instead of as a sole difluoromethyl source (different from other dihalocarbene), actually can serve as an electron acceptor to activate C-X bonds (X = N and O) and thus promote a myriad of fascinating transformations for the assembly of versatile valuable products with various aza-compounds (primary/secondary/tertiary amines as well as NH₃ and NaNH₂ and so on) and aliphatic ethers in the absence of transition metals and expensive ligands. Inspired by the electron-deficient characteristics of difluorocarbene, we first found that the isocyanides could be readily formed in situ when the unoccupied orbital of difluorocarbene meets the lone-pair of primary amines; in basic condition, a cascade defluorination and cyclizations could afford plethora of valuable N-containing heterocycles. Meanwhile, we disclosed that cyano anion could be accessible in situ as well when difluorocarbene and NaNH₂ or NH₃ were mixed up in suitable basic conditions, and thus a series of aryl nitrile compounds were obtained in the presence of Pd catalysis and ArI. Interestingly, when difluorocarbene encountered secondary amines, formamides were rendered under mild reactions. Of note, concomitant functionalizations of C and N moieties via cleavage of the unstrained C(sp³)-N bond in the absence of metal and oxidant are sparce, which indeed significantly add versatility and diversity to products. Gratifyingly, by uitilizing difluorocarbene and cyclic tertiary amines, we achieved difluorocarbene-mediated deconstructive functionalizations for the first time, showing successive C(sp³)-N bond scission of amines and simultaneous functionalization of C and N atoms which would be introduced into the products in the absence of transition metals and oxidants. This method provides a brand-new while very universal synthetic pathway to selectively cleave inert unactivated Csp³-N bonds, in which halodifluoromethyl reagents act as both C1 synthon and halo (Cl, Br, I) sources. Fascinatingly, nitrogen ylides are generated in situ from difluorocarbene and tertiary amines, and an intriguing and universal approach for deaminative arylation or alkenylation of tertiary amines was disclosed for the first time in appropriate basic conditions, which represents an intriguing reaction mode to lead to a formal transition-metal free Suzuki cross coupling. Besides, we also disclosed that difluorocarbene could proceed novel atom recombination to render meaningful 2-fluoroindoles or 3-(2,2-difluoroethyl)-2-fluoroindoles from ortho-vinylanilines, 3-fluorined oxindoles from 2-aminoarylketones, in which difluorocarbene acts as a C1 synthon and F1 source simultaneously. Last but not the least, we recently found that the lone-pair-electron of oxygen could trap difluorocarbene as well to form oxonium ylide, which eventually leads to C-O bond cleavage with the formation of difluoromethyl ethers.

B(C6 F5 )3 -Catalyzed Regioselective Ring Opening of Cyclic Amines with Hydrosilanes

Opening the ring of cyclic amines by regioselective fission of one of the carbon-nitrogen bonds greatly expands the repertoire of available nitrogen-containing skeletons. Unlike approaches starting from cyclic tertiary amines, methods that can directly open secondary amines are still scarce. The present work discloses an efficient reductive ring opening of either of these cyclic amines using PhSiH₃ under B(C₆ F₅ )₃ catalysis. By this, the direct transformation of unstrained cyclic amines into the corresponding acyclic amines is achieved in a simple one-pot operation. A stepwise mechanism proceeding through the intermediacy of silylammonium ions followed by reductive cleavage of a carbon-nitrogen bond was experimentally verified.

Difluorocarbene-Enabled Synthesis of 3-Alkenyl-2-oxindoles from ortho-Aminophenylacetylenes

Herein, we report a transition-metal-free [4 + 1] cyclization pathway from difluorocarbene and ortho-amino aryl alkynone, rendering an effective and universal strategy for the construction of 3-alkenyl-2-oxindoles. Our strategy starts from cheap and accessible ortho-amino aryl alkynone instead of the direct indole skeleton; moreover, in situ generated difluorocarbene from commercially available halogenated difluoroalkylative reagents enables the cleavage of a C-N bond and formation of new C-N bonds and C-C bonds.

Cu-catalyzed cascade difluoroalkylation/5-endo cyclization/β-fluorine cleavage of ynones

A copper-catalyzed, redox-neutral cascade difluoroalkylation/5-endo annulation/β-fluorine cleavage of ynones is developed, providing a direct and stereoselective method to access synthetically important α-monofluoroalkenyl cyclopentanones. Mechanistic studies suggest an unprecedented Cu^II-assisted β-fluorine fragmentation, which may be valuable for the challenging but important C-F bond activation. Moreover, the in situ generated difluorocarbene was found to serve as an effective reductant for the regeneration of copper(I) catalyst, thus avoiding the addition of external reductants.

Direct formylation of phenols using difluorocarbene as a safe CO surrogate

A convenient method to prepare aryl formates is reported herein that exploits difluorocarbene to serve as a CO surrogate. This reaction is proposed to occur through a sequential O-difluoromethylation of phenol, followed by α-C-F bond functionalization of the resulting aryl difluoromethyl ether intermediate by phenol or moisture through fluorosemiacetal or orthoformate intermediates. Late-stage modification of biologically and materially active compounds is demonstrated.

Deaminative Arylation and Alkenyaltion of Aliphatic Tertiary Amines with Aryl and Alkenylboronic Acids via Nitrogen Ylides

Transition-metal-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling has significantly advanced C-C bond formation and has been well recognized in organic synthesis, pharmaceuticals, materials science and other fields. In this rapid development, cross coupling without transition metal catalyst is a big challenge in this field, and using widely existing tertiary amines as electrophiles to directly couple with boronic acids has great hurdles yet significant application prospects. Herein, we report an efficient and general deaminative arylation and alkenylation of tertiary amines (propargyl amines, allyl amines and 1H-indol-3-yl methane amines) with ary and alkenylboronic acids enabled by difluorocarbene under transition-metal-free conditions. Preliminary mechanism experiments suggest that in situ formed difluoromethyl quaternary amine salt, nitrogen ylide and tetracoordinate boron species are the key intermediates, the subsequent 1,2-metallate shift and protodeboronation complete the new coupling reaction.

Enantioselective Copper-Catalyzed sp2/sp3 Diborylation of 1-Chloro-1-Trifluoromethylalkenes

Fluorine-containing organoboron compounds have emerged as novel building blocks in chemical synthesis; among them, fluorinated sp²/sp³ diborylated compounds are particularly appealing, since they might undergo chemoselective and diversified transformations of different C-B bonds with fluorinated functionality, thus bringing versatility and complexity to the eventual products. However, expedient, synthetic strategies for the construction of such fluorinated diborylative compounds are very sparse. Herein, we disclose enantioselective Cu-catalyzed sp²/sp³ diborylations of 1-chloro-1-trifluoromethylalkenes, leading to diborylated compounds bearing a gem-difluoroalkenyl moiety; most intriguingly, the new formed C-B bonds include one stereoselective and optically pure Csp³-B bond. Further transformations on the eventual products demonstrated the values of our presented strategy.

Synthesis of aryldifluoromethyl aryl ethers via nickel-catalyzed suzuki cross-coupling between aryloxydifluoromethyl bromides and boronic acids

As a unique organofluorine fragment, gem-difluoromethylated motifs have received widespread attention. Here, a convenient and efficient synthesis of aryldifluoromethyl aryl ethers (ArCF₂OAr') was established via Nickel-catalyzed aryloxydifluoromethylation with arylboronic acids. This approach features easily accessible starting materials, good tolerance of functionalities, and mild reaction conditions. Diverse late-stage difluoromethylation of many pharmaceuticals and natural products were readily realized. Notably, a new difluoromethylated PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor was conveniently synthesized and showed both improved metabolic stability and enhanced antitumor efficacy. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested the involvement of a Ni(I/III) catalytic cycle.

Deconstructive Insertion of Oximes into Coumarins: Modular Synthesis of Dihydrobenzofuran-Fused Pyridones

In the presence of a copper catalyst, a series of oximes undergo deconstructive insertion into coumarins to afford structurally interesting dihydrobenzofuran-fused pyridones in moderate to good yields with good functional group compatibility. The reaction likely involves a radical relay annulation, leading to the ring opening of the lactone moiety of the coumarins, and simultaneous formation of three new bonds. The investigation of photoluminescent properties reveals that several obtained compounds may have potential as fluorescent materials.

Photoinduced Cascade C-N/C═O Bond Formation from Bromodifluoroalkyl Reagents, Amines, and H2O via a Triple-Cleavage Process

A green, sustainable, and straightforward method for the synthesis of unsymmetrical oxalamides via photoinduced C-N/C═O bond formation of bromodifluoroacetamide, amine, and H₂O through a triple-cleavage process has been developed. In addition, this approach also provides access to the known bioactive compounds, and a feasible reaction mechanism is proposed. Moreover, the advantages of this transformation, including mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, and operational simplicity, make this protocol attractive for further applications.

An organophotocatalytic late-stage N–CH3 oxidation of trialkylamines to N-formamides with O2 in continuous flow

We report an organophotocatalytic, N–CH₃-selective oxidation of trialkylamines in continuous flow. Based on the 9,10-dicyanoanthracene (DCA) core, a new catalyst (DCAS) was designed with solubilizing groups for flow processing. This allowed O₂ to be harnessed as a sustainable oxidant for late-stage photocatalytic N–CH₃ oxidations of complex natural products and active pharmaceutical ingredients bearing functional groups not tolerated by previous methods. The organophotocatalytic gas–liquid flow process affords cleaner reactions than in batch mode, in short residence times of 13.5 min and productivities of up to 0.65 g per day. Spectroscopic and computational mechanistic studies showed that catalyst derivatization not only enhanced solubility of the new catalyst compared to poorly-soluble DCA, but profoundly diverted the photocatalytic mechanism from singlet electron transfer (SET) reductive quenching with amines toward energy transfer (E_nT) with O₂.

An N–CH₃-selective trialkylamine oxidation to N-formamides is reported in continuous flow using gaseous O₂. A novel, enhanced-solubility dicyanoanthracene organophotocatalyst switched the photochemical mechanism from electron to energy transfer.

Construction and transformations of 2,2-difluoro-2,3-dihydrofurans from enaminones and diflurocarbene

A simple and efficient construction of 2-difluoro-2,3-dihydrofurans was reported, which features metal-free, additive-free, broad functional group tolerance and readily accessible starting materials. It is worth mentioning that this type of...

Difluorocarbene-enabled access to 1,3-oxazin-6-ones from enamides

1,3-Oxazin-6-ones as important structural scaffolds widely exist in many bioactive or therapeutic agents.

TMSCF2 Br-Enabled Fluorination-Aminocarbonylation of Aldehydes: Modular Access to α-Fluoroamides

A protocol for the modular assembly of the α-fluoroamide motif has been developed, which provides a practical method for the efficient synthesis of structurally diverse α-fluoroamides from easily available aldehydes and tertiary amines through a three-component fluorination-aminocarbonylation process. The key to the success of this process is taking advantage of the multiple roles of the unique difluorocarbene reagent TMSCF₂ Br (TMS=trimethylsilyl). The mechanism of the process involves the 1,2-fluorine and oxygen migrations of the in situ formed TMS-protected α-aminodifluoromethyl carbinol intermediates, which represents a new type of deoxyfluorination reaction.

Biopatterned Reorganization of Alkaloids Enabled by Ring-Opening Functionalization of Tertiary Amines

Biosynthetic processes often involve reorganization of one family of natural products to another. Chemical emulation of nature's rearrangement-based structural diversification strategy would enable the conversion of readily available natural products to other value-added secondary metabolites. However, the development of a chemical method that can be universally applied to structurally diverse natural products is nontrivial. Key to the successful reorganization of complex molecules is a versatile and mild bond-cleaving method that correctly places desired functionality, facilitating the target synthesis. Here, we report a ring-opening functionalization of a tertiary amine that can introduce desired functionalities in the context of alkaloids reorganization. The semistability of the difluoromethylated ammonium salt, accessed by the reaction of tertiary amine and in situ generated difluorocarbene, enabled the attack at the α-position by various external nucleophiles. The utility and generality of the method is highlighted by its applications in the transformation of securinega, iboga, and sarpagine alkaloids to neosecurinega, chippiine/dippinine, and vobasine-type bisindole alkaloids, respectively. During the course of these biosynthetically inspired reorganizations, we could explore chemical reactivities of biogenetically relevant precursors.

Selective C(sp3 )-N Bond Cleavage of N,N-Dialkyl Tertiary Amines with the Loss of a Large Alkyl Group via an SN 1 Pathway

Polar disconnection of the C(sp³ )-N bond of N,N-dialkyl-substituted tertiary amines via ammonium species conventionally favored the loss of the smaller alkyl group by an S_N 2 displacement, while selective C(sp³ )-N bond cleavage by cutting off the larger alkyl group is still underdeveloped. Herein, we present a novel Pd⁰ -catalyzed [2+2+1] annulation, proceeding through an alkyne-directed palladacycle formation and consecutive diamination with a tertiary hydroxylamine by cleaving its N-O bond and one C(sp³ )-N bond, for the rapid assembly of tricyclic indoles in a single-step transformation. Noteworthy, experimental results indicated that large tert-butyl and benzyl groups were selectively cleaved via an S_N 1 pathway, in the presence of a smaller alkyl group (Me, Et, ⁱ Pr). Under the guidance of this new finding, tricyclic indoles bearing a removable alkyl group could be exclusively obtained by using a (α-methyl)benzyl/benzyl or tert-butyl/2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl mixed amino source.

Double Capture of Difluorocarbene by 2-Aminostyrenes Enables the Construction of 3-(2,2-Difluoroethyl)-2-fluoroindoles

We report herein an efficient strategy to construct 3-(2,2-difluoroethyl)-2-fluoroindoles from activated o-aminostyrenes with ethyl bromodi-fluoroacetate as a difluorocarbene source. Through double capture of a difluorocarbene, two different types of fluorine motifs are incorporated into the products with simultaneous construction of one C-N and two C-C bonds, without the need for transition metals. This reaction features high efficiency and excellent functional group compatibility and has great potential in the late-stage modifications of pharmaceutical molecules and natural products.

Difluorocarbene-Induced Ring-Opening Difluoromethylation-Halogenation of Cyclic (Thio)Ethers with TMSCF2 X (X=Br, Cl)*

The ring-opening difluoromethylation-halogenation of cyclic (thio)ethers is reported through a simple strategy relying on carbon-chalcogen bond activation with difluorocarbene. The reaction proceeds through in situ protonation of the previously little-known difluoromethylene oxonium or sulfonium ylide intermediate followed by ring-opening with halide ion to afford halogenated acyclic difluoromethyl (thio)ethers that can then be employed for further elaboration. TMSCF₂ X (X=Br, Cl) are unique reagents to achieve this synthetic purpose, which serve as both the difluorocarbene source and the halide ion source.

Metal-free enaminone C-N bond cyanation for the stereoselective synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-β-cyano enones

A highly practical method for C-CN bond formation by C-N bond cleavage on enaminones leading to the efficient synthesis of β-cyano enones is developed. The reactions take place efficiently to provide (E)-β-cyano enones with only a molecular iodine catalyst. In addition, the additional employment of oxalic acid enables the selective synthesis of (Z)-β-cyano enones.

C-F bond activation under transition-metal-free conditions

The unique properties of fluorine-containing organic compounds make fluorine substitution attractive for the development of pharmaceuticals and various specialty materials, which have inspired the evolution of diverse C-F bond activation techniques. Although many advances have been made in functionalizations of activated C-F bonds utilizing transition metal complexes, there are fewer approaches available for nonactivated C-F bonds due to the difficulty in oxidative addition of transition metals to the inert C-F bonds. In this regard, using Lewis acid to abstract the fluoride and light/radical initiator to generate the radical intermediate have emerged as powerful tools for activating those inert C-F bonds. Meanwhile, these transition-metal-free processes are greener, economical, and for the pharmaceutical industry, without heavy metal residues. This review provides an overview of recent C-F bond activations and functionalizations under transition-metal-free conditions. The key mechanisms involved are demonstrated and discussed in detail. Finally, a brief discussion on the existing limitations of this field and our perspective are presented.

Difluorocarbene enables to access 2-fluoroindoles from ortho-vinylanilines

2-Fluoroindoles as an important structural scaffold are widely existing in many bioactive or therapeutic agents. Despite their potential usefulness, efficient constructions of 2-fluoroindole derivatives are very sparce. The development of straightforward synthetic approaches to access 2-fluoroindoles is highly desirable for studying their fundamental properties and applications. Herein, we report an efficient and general strategy for the construction of 2-fluoroindoles in which a wide variety of 2-fluoroindoles were accessed with high efficiency and chemoselectivity. Instead of starting from indole skeletons, our strategy constructs indole scaffolds alongside the incorporation of fluorine atom on C2 position in a formal [4+1] cyclization from readily accessible ortho-vinylanilines and difluorocarbene. In our protocol, commercially accessible halodifluoroalkylative reagents provide one carbon and one fluorine atom by cleaving one C-N tertiary bond and forming one C-N bond and one C-C double bond with ortho-vinylanilines. Downstream transformations on 2-fluoroindoles lead to various valuable bioactive molecules which demonstrated significant synthetic advantages over previous reports. And mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction undergoes a cascade difluorocarbene-trapping and intramolecular Michael addition reaction followed by Csp³-F bond cleavage.

C-H Bond Functionalization of Amines: A Graphical Overview of Diverse Methods

This Graphical Review provides a concise overview of the manifold and mechanistically diverse methods that enable the functionalization of sp3 C-H bonds in amines and their derivatives.

Solvent-Dependent Cyclization of 2-Alkynylanilines and ClCF2COONa for the Divergent Assembly of N-(Quinolin-2-yl)amides and Quinolin-2(1H)-ones

Herein, we present an expedient Cu-catalyzed [5 + 1] cyclization of 2-alkynylanilines and ClCF₂COONa to divergent construction of N-(quinolin-2-yl)amides and quinolin-2(1H)-ones by regulating the reaction solvents. Notably, nitrile acts as a solvent and performs the Ritter reactions. ClCF₂COONa is used as a C1 synthon in this transformation, which also represents the first example for utilization of ClCF₂COONa as an efficient desiliconization reagent. The current protocol involves in situ generation of isocyanide, copper-activated alkyne, Ritter reaction and protonation.

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.

Synthesis of Difluoroglycine Derivatives from Amines, Difluorocarbene, and CO2 : Computational Design, Scope, and Applications

A three-component reaction (3CR) for the synthesis of difluoroglycine derivatives has been achieved by using amines, difluorocarbene (generated in situ), and the abundant, inexpensive, and nontoxic C₁ source CO₂ . Various tert-amines and pyridine, (iso)quinoline, imidazole, thiazole, and pyrazole derivatives were incorporated, and the corresponding products were isolated in solid form without purification by column chromatography on silica gel. Detailed reaction profiles of the 3CR were obtained from computational analysis using DFT calculations, and the results critically suggest that simple ammonia is not applicable to this reaction. In addition, as strongly supported by computational predictions, a new reagent that can generate difluorocarbene at 0 °C without any additives was discovered. Finally, radical substitution reactions of the obtained difluoroglycine derivatives under photoredox conditions, as well as a synthetic application as an N-heterocyclic carbene ligand are shown.

Selective cleavage and reconstruction of C–N/C–C bonds in saturated cyclic amines: tunable synthesis of lactams and functionalized acyclic amines

Selective cleavage of C–N/C–C bonds in saturated cyclic amines for the tunable synthesis of lactams and functionalized acyclic amines under the promotion of oxoammonium salt and TBHP in the presence of different additives have been developed.

Recent advances in the functionalization of saturated cyclic amines

Functionalized cyclic amines are the essential structural moieties of numerous biologically active compounds. This review summarized the most recent advances in the C–H, C–N and C–C bond functionalization of saturated cyclic amines.

Copper-catalyzed deaminative alkynylation of secondary amines with alkynes: selectivity switch in the synthesis of diverse propargylamines

The copper-catalyzed selective deamination and alkynylation of the unsymmetrical secondary amines with terminal alkynes was reported with a broad substrate scope and excellent functional compatibility.

Visible-Light Photoredox-Catalyzed Formal [5 + 1] Cycloaddition of N-Tosyl Vinylaziridines with Difluoroalkyl Halides

A visible-light photoredox-catalyzed formal [5 + 1] cycloaddition of N-tosyl vinylaziridines with difluoroalkyl halides as unique C1 synthons was developed. The procedure provides an efficient and practical method to synthesize diverse pyridines in moderate to good yields. The reaction underwent a radical-initiated kinetically controlled ring-opening of vinylaziridines and involved a key α,β-unsaturated imine intermediate, followed by an E2 elimination, a 6π electrocyclization, and defluorinated aromatization.

Recent progress on selective deconstructive modes of halodifluoromethyl and trifluoromethyl-containing reagents

Halodifluoromethyl and trifluoromethyl-containing compounds are widely employed in organic chemistry, pharmaceuticals and materials science. Therefore, their applications and transformations have received significant attention during the past few decades. The single, double, triple and quadruple cleavage of halodifluoromethyl compounds and various deconstructive modes of trifluoromethyl-containing compounds could generate a variety of synthons to prepare more valuable products. Herein, we summarize the most significant achievements in this field with an intriguing focus on results from the last decade.