New routes to organofluorine compounds based on ketenes and the radical transfer of xanthates

β-C(sp2)–H alkylation of enamides using xanthate chemistry

Access to the γ-amino-β,γ-unsaturated acyl scaffold was established by applying xanthate chemistry to enamides.

Nitroepoxide ring opening with thionucleophiles in water: synthesis of α-xanthyl ketones, β-keto sulfones and β-keto sulfonic acids

Nitroepoxide ring opening with thionucleophiles such as potassium xanthates, sodium aryl sulfinates and sodium bisulfite in water is investigated to provide the corresponding α-xanthyl-α-aryl-2-propanones, β-keto sulfones and β-keto sulfonic acids.

Thermal conversion of primary alcohols to disulfidesviaxanthate intermediates: an extension to the Chugaev elimination

Heating primaryO-alkylS-difluoro(ethoxycarbonyl)methyl xanthates yields disulfides. This extends to the Chugaev elimination.

The xanthate route to organofluorine derivatives. A brief account

The radical chemistry of xanthates allows numerous approaches to organofluorine compounds.

Copper-mediated deoxygenative trifluoromethylation of benzylic xanthates: generation of a C-CF(3) bond from an O-based electrophile

The conversion of an alcohol-based functional group, into a trifluoromethyl analogue is a desirable transformation. However, few methods are capable of converting O-based electrophiles into trifluoromethanes. The copper-mediated trifluoromethylation of benzylic xanthates using Umemoto's reagent as the source of CF3 to form C-CF3 bonds is described. The method is compatible with an array of benzylic xanthates bearing useful functional groups. A preliminary mechanistic investigation suggests that the C-CF3 bond forms by reaction of the substrate with in situ generated CuCF3 and CuOTf. Further evidence suggests that the reaction could proceed via a radical cation intermediate.

A short formal total synthesis of (±)-hirsutic acid

A short formal total synthesis of (±)-hirsutic acid is described using a Claisen rearrangement and a radical cascade as the key steps. The radical sequence involves an intermolecular addition of a radical derived from a xanthate followed by a cyclization and transfer of the xanthate group.

A highly stereoselective, modular route to (E)-vinylsulfones and to (Z)- and (E)-alkenes

A recently discovered radical fragmentation of 2-fluoro-6-pyridinoxy derivatives allows a new highly stereoselective and convergent route to (E)-vinylsulfones from allylic alcohols. Reductive desulfonylation or nickel-catalyzed couplings furnish di- and trisubstituted (E)- and (Z)-alkenes.

Unified, Radical-Based Approach for the Synthesis of Spiroketals

[reaction: see text] Functionalization of S-(3-chloro-2-oxo-propyl)-O-ethyl xanthate 1 by two consecutive xanthate transfer reactions, followed by spirocyclization of the resulting dihydroxy ketones, provides a flexible and highly convergent access to diversely substituted spiroketals, containing five-, six-, and seven-membered rings.