New Methods of Free-Radical Perfluoroalkylation of Aromatics and Alkenes. Absolute Rate Constants and Partial Rate Factors for the Homolytic Aromatic Substitution by n-Perfluorobutyl Radical

Copper-Catalyzed Bromo-cyanomethylative Cyclization of Enynes

A copper-catalyzed bromo-cyanomethylative cyclization of 1,6-enynes is demonstrated. The treatment of 2-bromoacetonitrile with CuI enables the alkyl radical generation and triggers the radical addition/cyclization/bromination sequence, giving various vinyl C-Br bonds containing functionalized heterocycles in good yields.

Photoactive perylenediimide metal–organic framework for boosting iodoperfluoroalkylation of alkenes and oxidative coupling of amines

A novel photoactive MOF was prepared based on an electron-deficient perylenediimide derivative, which exhibits excellent photocatalytic activities towards the iodoperfluoroalkylation of alkenes and the oxidation of amines to imines.

Base-promoted perfluoroalkylation of rhodium(III) porphyrin complexes

A new family of rhodium porphyrin complexes bearing a primary, secondary or benzylic perfluoroalkyl ligand RhIII(btpp)RF [btpp = 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-tert-butylphenyl)porphyrinato dianion] has been successfully synthesized in good yields using commercially available perfluoroalkyl iodides RFI (RF = nC3F7, iC3F7, nC4F9, nC6F13, cC6F11, nC10F21 and C6F5CF2) and the air-stable precursor RhIII(btpp)Cl under basic conditions. Mechanistic investigations suggest a halogen atom transfer pathway with a rhodium(ii) porphyrin metalloradical.

Towards a practical perfluoroalkylation of (hetero)arenes with perfluoroalkyl bromides using cobalt nanocatalysts

This paper report a convenient methodology for perfluoroalkylation including trifluoromethylation of (hetero)arenes with perfluoroalkyl bromides using a specific cobalt-based nanocatalyst.

Mechanism of Photoredox-Initiated C-C and C-N Bond Formation by Arylation of IPrAu(I)-CF3 and IPrAu(I)-Succinimide

Herein, we report on the photoredox-initiated gold-mediated C(sp²)-CF₃ and C(sp²)-N coupling reactions. By adopting gold as a platform for probing metallaphotoredox catalysis, we demonstrate that cationic gold(III) complexes are the key intermediates of the C-C and C-N coupling reactions. The high-valent gold(III) intermediates are accessed by virtue of photoredox catalysis through a radical chain process. In addition, the bond-forming step of the coupling reactions is the reductive elimination from cationic gold(III) intermediates, which is supported by isolation and crystallographic characterization of key Au(III) intermediates.

Aromatic C-H amination in hexafluoroisopropanol

We report a direct radical aromatic amination reaction that provides unprotected anilines with an improvement in the substrate scope compared to prior art. Hydrogen bonding by the solvent hexafluoroisopropanol to anions of cationic species is responsible for increased reactivity and can rationalize the enhancement in substrate scope. Our findings may have bearings on radical additions to arenes for direct C-H functionalization in general.

N-Heterocycle-Forming Amino/Carboperfluoroalkylations of Aminoalkenes by Using Perfluoro Acid Anhydrides: Mechanistic Studies and Applications Directed Toward Perfluoroalkylated Compound Libraries

This work describes a practical and efficient method for synthesizing a diverse array of perfluoroalkylated amines, including N-heterocycles, to afford perfluoroalkylated chemical libraries as potential sources of drug candidates, agrochemicals, and probe molecules for chemical-biology research. Perfluoro acid anhydrides, which are commonly used in organic synthesis, were employed as a perfluoroalkyl source for intramolecular amino- and carbo-perfluoroalkylations of aminoalkenes, affording perfluoroalkylated N-heterocycles, including: aziridines, pyrrolidines, benzothiazinane dioxides, indolines, and hydroisoquinolinones. Diacyl peroxides were generated in situ from the perfluoro acid anhydrides with urea·H₂O₂, and allowed to react with aminoalkenes in the presence of copper catalyst to control the product selectivity between amino- and carbo-perfluoroalkylations. To illustrate the synthetic utility of bench-stable trifluoromethylated aziridine, which was prepared on a gram scale, we used it to synthesize a wide variety of trifluoromethylated amines including complex molecules, such as trifluoromethylated tetrahydroharmine and spiroindolone. A mechanistic study of the role of the copper catalyst in the aminotrifluoromethylation of allylamine suggested that Cu(I) accelerates CF₃ radical formation via decomposition of diacyl peroxide, which appears to be the turnover-limiting step, while Cu(II) controls the product selectivity.

A class of effective decarboxylative perfluoroalkylating reagents: [(phen)2Cu](O2CRF)

A class of effective reagents [(phen)₂Cu](O₂CR_F) for the decarboxylative perfluoroalkylation of aryl and heteroaryl halides have been invented.

Approaches to prepare perfluoroalkyl and pentafluorophenyl copper couples for cross-coupling reactions with organohalogen compounds

The reactions of iodoperfluoroalkanes CnF2n+1I (n = 2, 3, 4) and n-BuLi at low temperatures give NMR spectroscopic evidence for LiCnF2n+1 which were converted into LiCu(CnF2n+1)2 derivatives upon treatment with 0.5 mol copper(i) bromide, CuBr. An alternative route to obtain perfluoroorgano copper couples, Cu(Rf)2Ag (Rf = n-C3F7, n-C4F9, C6F5) was achieved from the reactions of the corresponding perfluoroorgano silver(i) reagents, AgRf, and elemental copper through redox transmetallations. The composition of the resulting reactive intermediates was investigated by means of (19)F NMR spectroscopy and ESI mass spectrometry. Perfluoro-n-propyl and perfluoro-n-butyl copper-silver reagents prepared by the oxidative transmetallation route exhibited good properties in C-C bond formation reactions with acid chlorides even under moderate conditions. Substitution of bromine directly bound to aromatics for perfluoroalkyl groups was achieved at elevated temperatures, while success in halide substitution reactions using lithium copper couples remained poor.

One-step formation of bifunctionnal aryl/alkyl grafted films on conducting surfaces by the reduction of diazonium salts in the presence of alkyl iodides

The formation of partial perfluoroalkyl or alkyl radicals from partial perfluoroalkyl or alkyl iodides (ICH2CH2C6F13 and IC6H13) and their reaction with surfaces takes place at low driving force (∼-0.5 V/SCE) when the electrochemical reaction is performed in acetonitrile in the presence of diazonium salts (ArN2(+)), at a potential where the latter is reduced. By comparison to the direct grafting of ICH2CH2C6F13, this corresponds to a gain of ∼2.1 V in the case of 4-nitrobenzenediazonium. Such electrochemical reaction permits the modification of gold surfaces (and also carbon, iron, and copper) with mixed aryl-alkyl groups (Ar = 3-CH3-C6H4, 4-NO2-C6H4, and 4-Br-C6H4, R = C6H13 or (CH2)2-C6F13). These strongly bonded mixed layers are characterized by IRRAS, XPS, ToF-SIMS, ellipsometry, water contact angles, and cyclic voltammetry. The relative proportions of grafted aryl and alkyl groups can be varied along with the relative concentrations of diazonium and iodide components in the grafting solution. The formation of the films is assigned to the reaction of aryl and alkyl radicals on the surface and on the first grafted layer. The former is obtained from the electrochemical reduction of the diazonium salt; the latter results from the abstraction of an iodine atom by the aryl radical. The mechanism involved in the growth of the film provides an example of complex surface radical chemistry.

Perfluoroalkylation reactions of (hetero)arenes

Methods for the perfluoroalkylation of (hetero)arenes can be classified as thermal and photochemical, which in turn can be conducted in the presence or absence of metals.

Photocatalytic fluoroalkylation reactions of organic compounds

Photocatalytic methods for fluoroalkyl-radical generation provide more convenient alternatives to the classical perfluoroalkyl-radical (R_f) production through chemical initiators, such as azo or peroxide compounds or the employment of transition metals through a thermal electron transfer (ET) initiation process.

Perfluorobutyl iodide-assisted direct cyanomethylation of azoles and phenols with acetonitrile

A perfluorobutyl iodide-assisted transition-metal-free cyanomethylation of azoles and phenols with acetonitrile in the presence of NaH has been developed. A mechanism involving the cyanomethyl radical was proposed.

A new oligo(hexafluoropropylene oxide)-b-oligo(ethylene oxide) diblock surfactant obtained by radical reactions

The synthesis and characterization of a new oligo(hexafluoropropylene oxide)-b-oligo(ethylene oxide), oligo(HFPO)-b-oligo(PEG), diblock co-oligomer are presented.

Iron-catalyzed electrochemical C–H perfluoroalkylation of arenes

A new iron-catalyzed reaction for the coupling of perfluoroalkyl iodides with aromatic substrates is described.

Recent progress in direct introduction of fluorinated groups on alkenes and alkynes by means of C-H bond functionalization

The direct introduction of fluorine and fluorinated building blocks has recently attracted a lot of attention and particularly the direct functionalization of alkenes and alkynes. This review will highlight the major progress recently made in that field, with a focus on photocatalyzed transformations, base-promoted processes, and transition metal-catalyzed functionalization of alkenes and alkynes. Special attention will be paid to explanations of the reaction mechanisms.

Design and formulation of nanoemulsions using 2-(poly(hexafluoropropylene oxide)) perfluoropropyl benzene in combination with linear perfluoro(polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether)

This is the first report where PFPAE aromatic conjugates and perfluoro(polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether) are combined and formulated as nanoemulsions with droplet size below 100 nm. A perfluoropolyalkylether (PFPAE) aromatic conjugate, 2-(poly(hexafluoropropylene oxide)) perfluoropropyl benzene, was used as fluorophilic-hydrophilic diblock (FLD) aimed at stabilizing perfluoro(polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether) nanoemulsions. Its effects on colloidal behaviors in triphasic (organic/fluorous/aqueous) nanoemulsions were studied. The addition of FLD construct to fluorous phase led to decrease in PFPAE nanoemulsion droplet size to as low as 85 nm. Prepared nanoemulsions showed high colloidal stability. Our results suggest that these materials represent viable novel approach to fluorous colloid systems design with potential for biomedical and synthetic applications.

Metal-free photochemical aromatic perfluoroalkylation of α-cyano arylacetates

We report here an operationally simple protocol for the direct aromatic perfluoroalkylation and trifluoromethylation of α-cyano arylacetates. This metal-free approach, which occurs at ambient temperature and under visible-light irradiation, is driven by the photochemical activity of electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complexes, formed in situ by the interaction of transiently generated enolates and perfluoroalkyl iodides. Preliminary mechanistic studies are reported.

Iron-catalyzed radical aryldifluoromethylation of activated alkenes to difluoromethylated oxindoles

An iron-catalyzed aryldifluoromethylation of activated alkenes has been developed, which is a rare example where a cosolvent is used to improve the yield along with Fenton's reagent.

Recent advances in transition metal-catalyzed Csp(2)-monofluoro-, difluoro-, perfluoromethylation and trifluoromethylthiolation

In the last few years, transition metal-mediated reactions have joined the toolbox of chemists working in the field of fluorination for Life-Science oriented research. The successful execution of transition metal-catalyzed carbon-fluorine bond formation has become a landmark achievement in fluorine chemistry. This rapidly growing research field has been the subject of some excellent reviews. Our approach focuses exclusively on transition metal-catalyzed reactions that allow the introduction of -CFH2, -CF2H, -C n F2 n +1 and -SCF3 groups onto sp² carbon atoms. Transformations are discussed according to the reaction-type and the metal employed. The review will not extend to conventional non-transition metal methods to these fluorinated groups.