Low-Valent Niobium-Mediated Double Activation of C−F/C−H Bonds: Fluorene Synthesis fromo-Arylated α,α,α-Trifluorotoluene Derivatives

C-F Transformations of Benzotrifluorides by the Activation of Ortho-Hydrosilyl Group

Single C-F transformations of aromatic trifluoromethyl compounds are challenging issues due to the strong C-F bond. We have recently developed selective methods for single C-F transformations such as allylation of o-hydrosilyl-substituted benzotrifluorides through the hydride abstraction with trityl cations. Single C-F thiolation and azidation of o-(hydrosilyl)benzotrifluorides were achieved using trityl sulfides and trityl azide catalyzed by Yb(OTf)3 . Treatment of o-(hydrosilyl)benzotrifluorides with trityl chloride resulted in single C-F chlorination. The resulting fluorosilyl group served in further transformations including protonation, halogenation, and Hiyama cross-coupling with C-Si cleavage. We also synthesized benzyl fluorides by LiAlH4 -reduction of the resulting fluorosilanes and further C-F transformations. These methods enabled us to prepare a broad range of organofluorines from simple benzotrifluorides through C-F and C-Si transformations.

Photoredox Catalyzed Single C-F Bond Activation of Trifluoromethyl Ketones: A Solvent Controlled Divergent Access of gem-Difluoromethylene Containing Scaffolds

Selective defluorinative functionalization of trifluoromethyl ketones is a long-standing challenge owing to the exhaustive mode of the process. To meet the demands for the installation of the gem-difluoromethylene unit for the construction of the molecular architectures of well-known pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, a distinct pathway is thereby highly desirable. Here, a protocol is introduced that allows the divergent synthesis of gem-difluoromethylene group containing tetrahydrofuran derivatives and linear ketones via single C-F bond activation of trifluoromethyl ketones using visible-light photoredox catalysis in the presence of suitable olefins as trapping partner. The choice of appropriate solvent and catalyst plays a significant role in controlling the divergent behavior of this protocol. Highly reducing photo-excited catalysts are found to be responsible for the generation of α,α-difluoromethyl ketone (DFMK) radicals as the key intermediate via a SET process. This protocol also results in a high diastereoselectivity towards the formation of partially fluorinated cyclic ketal derivatives with simultaneous construction of one C-C and two C-O bonds. State-of-the-art DFT calculations are performed to address the origin of diastereoselectivity as well as the divergence of this protocol.

Photochemical and Electrochemical Strategies for Hydrodefluorination of Fluorinated Organic Compounds

Hydrodefluorination (HDF) is a very important fundamental transformation for conversion of the C-F bond into the C-H bond in organic synthesis. In the past decade, much progress has been achieved with HDF through the utility of low-valent metals, transition-metal complexes and main-group Lewis acids. Recently, novel methods have been introduced for this purpose through photo- and electrochemical pathways, which are of great significance, due to their considerable environmental and economical advantages. This Review highlights the HDF of fluorinated organic compounds (FOCs) through photo- and electrochemical strategies, along with mechanistic insights.

Synthesis of Fluorenes and Dibenzo[g,p]chrysenes through an Oxidative Cascade

We have developed robust, operationally simple syntheses of fluorenes and of dibenzo[g,p]chrysenes through oxidative cascade processes. These structures that are commonly encountered in optoelectronic materials, dyes, and pharmaceutical products are accessible from 1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decan-8-one. The reactions are conducted open to air with inexpensive, safe CuBr₂ or CuCl₂.

Multiple-fold C–F bond functionalization for the synthesis of (hetero)cyclic compounds: fluorine as a detachable chemical handle

We highlighted the recent advances in the field of multiple-fold C–F bond functionalization for the synthesis of (hetero)cyclic compounds.

Synthesis of fluorenes and their related compounds from biaryls and Meldrum's acid derivatives

A new synthetic method for preparing fluorenes from amino group-containing biaryls and Meldrum's acid derivatives was developed. The reaction proceeded without a catalyst and loss of functional groups. The corresponding six- and seven-membered cyclic products were obtained using biaryl ether and ortho-terphenyl as substrates, respectively.

HFIP-Assisted Single C-F Bond Activation of Trifluoromethyl Ketones using Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis

A visible light photoredox catalytic method for the selective cleavage of single strong C-F bond in trifluoromethyl ketones is reported. Single electron reduction of trifluoromethyl ketones generates difluoromethyl radicals which can be engaged in intermolecular C-C bond formation with N-methyl-N-arylmethacrylamides to furnish fluorine-containing oxindole derivatives in good yields. The reaction shows excellent chemoselectivity with good functional group tolerance under mild conditions. 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as a solvent plays a critical role for the selective single C-F bond cleavage. High-level DFT calculations are depicted to shed light on the mechanism.

Iridium(III)-Catalyzed Diarylation/Annulation of Benzoic Acids: Facile Access to Multi-Aryl Spirobifluorenes as Pure Hydrocarbon Hosts for High-Performance OLEDs

Herein disclosed is the first example of diarylation/annulation of benzoic acids via an iridium catalyst system. This protocol provides a step-economic and highly efficient pathway to 1-aryl, 1,3-diaryl, 1,7-diaryl and 1,3,7-triaryl spirobifluorenes from readily available starting materials. The applications of multi-aryl spirobifluorenes as pure hydrocarbon (PHC) hosts for red, green, and blue (RGB) phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs) were explored. Due to high triplet energies, 1,3-diaryl spirobifluorenes exhibit the potential as the host material of blue PhOLEDs. 1,7-Diaryl spirobifluorene can serve as the host of green PhOLEDs. 1,3,7-Triaryl spirobifluorene is a high-performance host for red PhOLEDs, which exhibits a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 27.3 %. This work not only exemplifies the great potential of multi-aryl spirobifluorenes as PHC hosts, but also offers a new approach for the synthesis of these PHC hosts.

Metal-catalysed C-Het (F, O, S, N) and C-C bond arylation

The formation of C-aryl bonds has been the focus of intensive research over the last decades for the construction of complex molecules from simple, readily available feedstocks. Traditionally, these strategies involve the coupling of organohalides (I, Br, Cl) with organometallic reagents (Mg, Zn, B, Si, Sn,…) such as Kumada-Corriu, Negishi, Suzuki-Miyaura, Hiyama and Sonogashira cross-couplings. More recently, alternative methods have provided access to these products by reactions with less reactive C-Het (F, O, S, N) and C-C bonds. Compared to traditional methods, the direct cleavage and arylation of these chemical bonds, the essential link in accessible feedstocks, has become increasingly important from the viewpoint of step-economy and functional-group compatibility. This comprehensive review aims to outline the development and advances of this topic, which was organized into (1) C-F bond arylation, (2) C-O bond arylation, (3) C-S bond arylation, (4) C-N bond arylation, and (5) C-C bond arylation. Substantial attention has been paid to the strategies and mechanistic investigations. We hope that this review can trigger chemists to discover more efficient methodologies to access arylation products by cleavage of these C-Het and C-C bonds.

Niobium- and zirconium-catalyzed reactions of substituted 2 alkynylamines with Et2Zn

The NbCl5-EtMgBr-catalyzed reaction of N,N-disubstituted 2-alkynylamines with Et2Zn followed by hydrolysis or deuterolysis affords (2Z)-alkenylamines (reduction products of alkyne) in high yields. The reaction of N,N-disubstituted 2-alkynylamines with Et2Zn catalyzed by the Cp2ZrCl2-EtMgBr system occurs as 2-zincoethylzincation, resulting, after deuterolysis or iodinolysis, in the regio- and stereoselective formation of the corresponding dideuterated and diiodinated 2-alkenylamine derivatives with a trisubstituted double bond. This study demonstrates the difference between the catalytic effects of NbCl5 and Cp2ZrCl2 on the pathway of reaction of tertiary 2-alkynylamines with Et2Zn in the presence of catalytic amounts of EtMgBr.

Palladium-catalyzed selective defluorinative arylation for the efficient stereospecific synthesis of (E)-β-fluoroacrylamides

A practical and efficient method for the synthesis of (E)-β-fluoroacrylamides was developed by the selective defluorinative arylation of trifluoropropanamides with arylboronic acids.

Recent advance in the C–F bond functionalization of trifluoromethyl-containing compounds

The C–F bond is the strongest single bond in organic compounds.

Two C(sp3)-F Bond Activation in a CF3 Group: ipso-Defluorinative Amination Triggered 1,3-Diamination of (Trifluoromethyl)alkenes with Indoles, Carbazoles, Pyrroles, and Sulfonamides

A novel strategy enabled cleavage of two C(sp³)-F bonds in a CF₃ group is reported. Triggered by ipso-defluorinative amination, this 1,3-diamination of (trifluoromethyl)alkenes with indoles, carbazoles, pyrroles, and sulfonamides gave acyclic 1,3-diamine products bearing a monofluoroalkene moiety in high yields with good to excellent Z/E selectivities. Preliminary mechanistic studies enable the isolation of the reaction intermediate and indicate that a unique sequential ipso-/γ-selective defluorinative amination pathway is involved in this transformation.

Functionalization of a Single C-F Bond of Trifluoromethylarenes Assisted by an ortho-Silyl Group Using a Trityl-Based All-in-One Reagent with Ytterbium Triflate Catalyst

Catalytic thiolation and azidation of a single C-F bond of trifluoromethylarenes were achieved assisted by an ortho-silyl group with all-in-one reagents to generate a trityl cation and nucleophiles. The reactions catalyzed by ytterbium triflate efficiently afforded a wide variety of difluoromethylenes avoiding the further C-F bond cleavage, by virtue of the mild conditions without the generation of a Brønsted acid.

Cyanomethylation of Substituted Fluorenes and Oxindoles with Alkyl Nitriles

The first example of metal-free cyanomethylenation from alkyl nitriles of sp³ C-H bonds to afford quaternary carbon centers is described. This oxidative protocol is operationally simple and features good functional group compatibility. This method provides a novel approach to highly functionalized fluorene and oxindole derivatives, which are commonly used in material and pharmaceutical areas. Control experiments provide evidence of a radical reaction process.

Palladium-catalyzed selective defluorinative sulfenylation for the synthesis of fluorovinylthioethers

An efficient transformation of trifluoromethylated benzyl bromides to monofluoroalkenes through Pd-catalyzed selective defluorinative sulfenylation is described.

A denitrogenative palladium-catalyzed cascade for regioselective synthesis of fluorenes

We herein report a denitrogenative palladium-catalyzed cascade for the modular and regioselective synthesis of polysubstituted fluorenes. Hydrazone facilitates the Pd(ii) to Pd(iv) oxidative addition in a Catellani pathway and is also the methylene synthon in the proposed reaction. Aryl iodides and 2-bromoarylaldehyde hydrazones undergo a norbornene-controlled tandem reaction sequence to give a broad scope of fluorenes in the presence of a palladium catalyst. The method described is scalable and adaptable to a three-component reaction with in situ generation of the hydrazone group. Preliminary mechanistic investigations have been conducted.

Selective single C-F bond arylation of trifluoromethylalkene derivatives

Through an S_N2′ amination, N-alkylation and palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution sequence, we realized ipso-C–F bond arylation/alkenylation of trifluoromethylalkene derivatives.

A strategically novel single C–F bond functionalization of CF₃-derived molecules, which shows a prominent advantage for the expedient construction of difluoromethylene-bridged organic scaffolds, is disclosed. The reported protocol consists of S_N2′ amination, N-alkylation and palladium-catalyzed allylic substitution reactions, which enables straightforward arylation and alkenylation of vinyltrifluoromethane derivatives. Furthermore, this strategy is characterized by its broad substrate scope with respect to both CF₃-alkene and arylboronic acid derivatives.

Accumulation of perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural plants: A review

PFASs are a class of compounds that include perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, some of the most persistent pollutants still allowed - or only partially restricted - in several product fabrications and industrial applications worldwide. PFASs have been shown to interact with blood proteins and are suspected of causing a number of pathological responses, including cancer. Given this threat to living organisms, we carried out a broad review of possible sources of PFASs and their potential accumulation in agricultural plants, from where they can transfer to humans through the food chain. Analysis of the literature indicates a direct correlation between PFAS concentrations in soil and bioaccumulation in plants. Furthermore, plant uptake largely changes with chain length, functional group, plant species and organ. Low accumulations of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) have been found in peeled potatoes and cereal seeds, while short-chain compounds can accumulate at high levels in leafy vegetables and fruits. Significant variations in PFAS buildup in plants according to soil amendment are also found, suggesting a particular interaction with soil organic matter. Here, we identify a series of challenges that PFASs pose to the development of a safe agriculture for future generations.

Modern applications of low-valent early transition metals in synthesis and catalysis

Low-valent early transition metals are often intrinsically highly reactive as a result of their strong propensity toward oxidation to more stable high-valent states. Harnessing these highly reducing complexes for productive reactivity is potentially powerful for C-C bond construction, organic reductions, small-molecule activation and many other reactions that offer orthogonal chemoselectivity and/or regioselectivity patterns to processes promoted by late transition metals. Recent years have seen many exciting new applications of low-valent metals through building new catalytic and/or multicomponent reaction manifolds out of classical reactivity patterns. In this Review, we survey new methods that employ early transition metals and invoke low-valent precursors or intermediates in order to identify common themes and strategies in synthesis and catalysis.

NHC-catalyzed [4+2] cycloaddition reactions for the synthesis of 3′-spirocyclic oxindoles via a C–F bond cleavage protocol

A chiral NHC-catalyzed cycloaddition of γ-fluoroenals is developed. The nucleophilic γ-carbon generated via C–F bond cleavage undergoes highly enantioselective cycloaddition (up to >99% ee) to isatins and provides 3′-spirocyclic oxindoles in good yields (up to 91%).

Activation of C–F bonds α to C–C multiple bonds

A closer look is given to the successful approaches to the C(sp³)–F activation of benzylic, allylic, propargylic and allenylic fluorides.

Pd-catalyzed defluorination/arylation of α-trifluoromethyl ketones via consecutive β-F elimination and C–F bond activation

Pd-catalyzed selective activation of a CF₃ group by consecutive β-F elimination and C–F oxidative addition is reported herein.

Selective Single C(sp3)-F Bond Cleavage in Trifluoromethylarenes: Merging Visible-Light Catalysis with Lewis Acid Activation

The conversion of easily available trifluoromethylarenes into aryldifluoromethyl compounds, which are valuable motifs in the pharmaceutical chemistry, is highly atom- and step-economical. However, the single C(sp³)-F bond cleavage of ArCF₃ is a great challenge because of the chemical inertness of the C(sp³)-F bond and the difficult selectivity control of monodefluorination. We report here the first example of single C(sp³)-F functionalization of trifluoromethylarenes via visible-light catalysis merged with Lewis acid activation. The method allows good chemoselectivity control and shows good functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies suggest an in situ-generated borenium cationic species as the key intermediate for C(sp³)-F bond cleavage in this reaction.

Domino C-F Bond Activation of the CF3 Group: Synthesis of Fluorinated Dibenzo[a,c][7]annulenes from 2-(Trifluoromethyl)-1-alkenes and 2,2'-Diceriobiaryls

The construction of ring-fluorinated seven-membered carbocycles was readily achieved via the domino S_N2'-type/S_NV reaction between 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1-alkenes and 1,4-carbodianions. The S_N2'-type reaction of 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1-alkenes with 2,2'-diceriobiaryls generated the intermediary 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes bearing a monoceriobiaryl moiety, which in turn underwent intramolecular S_NV reaction to afford fluorinated 5H-dibenzo[a,c][7]annulenes.

Aluminum oxide mediated C–F bond activation in trifluoromethylated arenes

Thermally activated γ-aluminium oxide was found to be very effective for C–F bond activation in trifluoromethylated arenes.