Fluorinated 1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl sulfone derivatives as general reagents for fluoroalkylidene synthesis

(Z)-Selective Synthesis of Bromofluoroalkenes via the TMSCF2Br-Mediated Tandem Reaction with para-Quinone Methides

We report herein a tandem reaction of para-quinone methides with TMSCF₂Br to construct bromofluoroalkenes in a Z-selective manner. While TMSCF₂Br has been documented as the precursor of difluoro carbene, it exhibits another possibility in this transformation, a formal bromofluoro carbene surrogate. The alkenyl bromide unit of the products could directly engage in a variety of transformations.

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.

Selective C-H chalcogenation of thiazoles via thiazol-2-yl-phosphonium salts

Thiazoles and benzothiazoles undergo regioselective C2-H chalcogenation via the sequence of thiazole C2-functionalization with phosphines to produce phosphonium salts which in turn react with S- and Se-centered nucleophiles to give products of C2-H chalcogenation and allow for recovery of the starting phosphine. The atom economical sequence proceeds under mild conditions and features broad scope for both the nucleophiles (electron-rich, electron-poor, sterically hindered thiols) and the various substituted benzothiazoles. The access to the substituted medicinally relevant C2-thio benzothiazoles also enables stereoselectivity improvements in the modified Julia olefinations.

Modular radical cross-coupling with sulfones enables access to sp3-rich (fluoro)alkylated scaffolds

Cross-coupling chemistry is widely applied to carbon-carbon bond formation in the synthesis of medicines, agrochemicals, and other functional materials. Recently, single-electron-induced variants of this reaction class have proven particularly useful in the formation of C(sp²)-C(sp³) linkages, although certain compound classes have remained a challenge. Here, we report the use of sulfones to activate the alkyl coupling partner in nickel-catalyzed radical cross-coupling with aryl zinc reagents. This method's tolerance of fluoroalkyl substituents proved particularly advantageous for the streamlined preparation of pharmaceutically oriented fluorinated scaffolds that previously required multiple steps, toxic reagents, and nonmodular retrosynthetic blueprints. Five specific sulfone reagents facilitate the rapid assembly of a vast set of compounds, many of which contain challenging fluorination patterns.

Synthesis of regiospecifically fluorinated conjugated dienamides

Modular synthesis of regiospecifically fluorinated 2,4-diene Weinreb amides, with defined stereochemistry at both double bonds, was achieved via two sequential Julia-Kocienski olefinations. In the first step, a Z-α-fluorovinyl Weinreb amide unit with a benzothiazolylsulfanyl substituent at the allylic position was assembled. This was achieved via condensation of two primary building blocks, namely 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylsulfonyl)-2-fluoro-N-methoxy-N-methylacetamide (a Julia-Kocienski olefination reagent) and 2-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-ylthio)acetaldehyde (a bifunctional building block). This condensation was highly Z-selective and proceeded in a good 76% yield. Oxidation of benzothiazolylsulfanyl moiety furnished a second-generation Julia-Kocienski olefination reagent, which was used for the introduction of the second olefinic linkage via DBU-mediated condensations with aldehydes, to give (2Z,4E/Z)-dienamides in 50%–74% yield. Although olefinations were 4Z-selective, (2Z,4E/Z)-2-fluoro-2,4-dienamides could be readily isomerized to the corresponding 5-substituted (2Z,4E)-2-fluoro-N-methoxy-N-methylpenta-2,4-dienamides in the presence of catalytic iodine.

A convenient eco-friendly system for the synthesis of 5-sulfenyl tetrazole derivatives of indoles and pyrroles employing CeCl3·7H2O in PEG-400

The use of CeCl₃·7H₂O in PEG-400 for the convenient synthesis of 5-sulfenyl tetrazoles derived from indoles and pyrroles, is reported. The scope and limitations of the transformation were also studied.

A practical route for the highly stereoselective synthesis of tetrasubstituted fluoroalkenes

A series of tetrasubstituted fluoroalkene derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of α-fluoro-β-carbonyl benzothiazol-2-yl sulfones with various nucleophiles in good yields with high stereoselectivities. The predominant cis configuration of fluorine and alkynyl groups was observed. A single isomer was obtained when a ketone, acetate or amide was used as the substrate in the presence of a base.

Stereoselective synthesis of conjugated fluoro enynes

Metalation-electrophilic fluorination of TMS- and TIPS-protected 1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl (BT) propargyl sulfones gave corresponding BT fluoropropargyl sulfones, Julia-Kocienski reagents for the synthesis of fluoro enynes. Both reagents reacted with aldehydes under mild DBU- or LHMDS-mediated conditions, giving high yields of conjugated fluoro enynes with E-stereoselectivity. In comparison to DBU-mediated reactions, stereoselectivity was higher in low-temperature LHMDS-mediated reactions. Two ketones were shown to react as well, using LHMDS as base. In situ removal of the TMS group gave terminal conjugated 2-fluoro 1,3-enynes. Synthetic utility of the fluoro enynes was demonstrated by conversion to internal alkynes and to stereoisomeric fluoro dienes via Sonogashira and Heck couplings.

Expedient synthesis of α-substituted fluoroethenes

A mild and efficient synthesis of 1-aryl-1-fluoroethenes from benzothiazolyl (aryl)fluoromethyl sulfones and paraformaldehyde, under DBU- or Cs(2)CO(3)-mediated conditions at room temperature, is described. A comparable diethyl fluoro(naphthalen-2-yl)methylphosphonate reagent does not react with paraformaldehyde under these mild conditions. The utility of the methodology for synthesis of terminal α-fluoroalkenes bearing electron-withdrawing functionalities is also shown.

Asymmetric organocatalytic monofluorovinylations

The development of highly enantio- and diastereoselective organocatalytic monofluorovinylations is presented. Based on the application of α-fluoro-β-keto-benzothiazolesulfones, the formal addition of a monofluorovinylic anion synthon to a range of acyclic and cyclic enones, as well as imines, is shown. These procedures give selective access to both E- and Z-isomers of the monofluorovinylated products, which are isolated as the pure diastereoisomers in good to excellent yields with up to 99% ee. Furthermore, the application of this concept for the formation of highly enantioenriched bicylic compounds containing a monofluorovinyl moiety is also described. In addition, a mechanistic rationale for the observed E:Z-selectivities is presented.

Facile synthesis of 4-vinyl- and 4-fluorovinyl-1,2,3-triazoles via bifunctional "click-olefination" reagents

Modular synthesis of vinyl and fluorovinyl triazoles can be achieved from bifunctional propargyl and fluoropropargyl sulfones by Cu-catalyzed azide-alkyne ligation and Julia-Kocienski olefination. Competitive click reactions of the protio and fluoropropargyl sulfones show higher reactivity of the latter, and a preliminary DFT analysis was performed.

Synthesis of Fluoroolefins via Julia-Kocienski Olefination

The Julia-Kocienski olefination provides a versatile platform for the synthesis of fluorovinyl compounds. This review describes our efforts as well as those of others in the synthesis of various fluorinated aryl and heteroaryl sulfones and their utility as olefination reagents for the modular assembly of fluoroalkenes. Where data is available, the influence of the fluorine atom on the reactivity of the olefination reagents and the stereochemical outcome of the olefination are described.