Trifluoromethylnitrone: a versatile building block for synthesizing trifluoromethyl-containing heterocyclic compounds

This review explores the significance of trifluoromethylnitrones in synthesizing fluorine-containing compounds, with a particular focus on trifluoromethylated heterocycles. It explores the versatility of trifluoromethylnitrones, especially in [3 + 2] cycloaddition reactions, highlighting their unique reactivity with various dienophile substrates. Trifluoromethylnitrones are valuable precursors for the rapid synthesis of medicinally important trifluoromethylated heterocycles, including isoxazolidines, dihydroisoxazoles, oxathiazolidines, β-lactams, and aziridines. These heterocycles, in turn, serve as synthons for synthesizing trifluoromethylated lactams and aminoalcohols. Additionally, nitrone chemistry extends to synthesizing trifluoromethylated nucleosides and trifluorinated organoborane heterocycles, demonstrating their versatility. While sharing similarities with trifluorodiazoethane reactivity, trifluoromethylnitrones offer distinct advantages by enabling the synthesis of heterocycles typically inaccessible with trifluorodiazoethane.

Silver-catalyzed nitrosation and nitration of aromatic amides using NOBF4

Divergent aromatic ring nitrosation and nitration of aromatic amides are reported using NOBF4 as the electrophile under silver-catalyzed conditions. The reactions proceed efficiently with a wide range of compatible functionalities providing ortho-position nitrosation products, deacylation nitrosation products, and nitration products from different tertiary and secondary aromatic amides.

Brønsted acid-catalyzed annulation reaction of hydroxamic acids: synthesis of cyclopentane-fused isoxazolidines and their benzilic amide rearrangement

Readily available hydroxamic acids were leveraged to access challenging nitrones in the presence of H3PO4 as a Brønsted acid catalyst and engaged in an intramolecular (3+2) annulation reaction to make valuable cyclopentane-fused isoxazolidines with high yields and excellent diastereoselectivity. The products were further utilized in a unique base-promoted benzilic amide rearrangement to provide cyclopentane-fused γ-lactams bearing three contiguous stereocenters as a single diastereomer.

Trapping of Arynes with In Situ Generated Aryltrifluoromethylnitrones Enables Access to Trifluoromethylated Benzoxazolines

Herein, we report a rare example of trapping arynes using in situ generated aryltrifluoromethylnitrone to access an important class of trifluoromethylated benzoxazolines. This three-component strategy involves a nitrone formation/[3 + 2] cycloaddition/thermal rearrangement cascade and furnishes trifluoromethylated benzoxazolines in high yields. The scope of the reaction is quite broad with respect to aryltrifluorodiazoethanes, nitrosoarenes, and arynes. The proposed reaction pathway is supported through the isolation and characterization of the key reaction intermediates phenyltrifluoromethylnitrone and benzisoxazoline.

Cu(OAc)2-catalyzed three-component cycloaddition of malonates, nitrosoarenes and alkenes: access to isoxazolidines

The Cu(OAc)₂-catalyzed one-pot three-component cycloaddition of malonates, nitrosoarenes and alkenes is described. A wide range of isoxazolidines could be obtained in moderate to excellent yields via this method. Mechanistic investigations indicated that the key step in this catalytic system is the straightforward formation of nitrone intermediates through the Cu(OAc)₂-catalyzed reaction of malonates with nitrosoarenes.

Additive-free synthesis of fused tricyclic cyanoisoxazolidines using in situ formed cyanonitrones

Herein, we disclose the first report on the generation of cyanonitrone in situ from diazoacetonitrile and nitrosoarene, and its subsequent [3+2] cycloaddition with oxabicyclic alkenes to access fused tricyclic cyanoisoxazolidines. Further, this methodology could be extended to access fused tricyclic trifluoromethylated and phosphonylated isoxazolidines. Surprisingly, the reductive ring-opening of cyanoisoxazolidines was followed by a spontaneous lactonization to produce fused tricyclic amino lactones. Moreover, the N-O bond of the obtained tricyclic trifluoromethylated isoxazolidines could be cleaved to obtain 1,3-amino alcohols.

Hydrazones as Substrates in the Synthesis of Isoxazolidines via a KOH-Promoted One-Pot Three-Component Cycloaddition with Nitroso Compounds and Olefins

Hydrazones have been employed as the starting materials in a KOH-mediated one-pot three-component cycloaddition with readily accessible nitroso compounds and olefins to construct various isoxazolidines. Compared with diazo compounds as starting materials, this methodology could afford a wider range of products in good to excellent yields and diastereoselectivities for most substrates, and hydrazones are cheaper, more accessible, and safer substrates. The experimental study shows that the choice of suitable hydrazones is crucial.

Directed Cobalt-Catalyzed C-H Activation to Form C-C and C-O Bonds in One Pot via Three-Component Coupling

Herein, we disclose an efficient cobalt-catalyzed three-component coupling of benzamides, diazo compounds, and tert-butyl hydroperoxide, which provides an efficient approach to construct C(sp²)-C(sp³) and C-O bonds in one-pot accompanied with C-H activation. This protocol features low catalyst loading (4 mol %), the avoidance of additives, and excellent functional group compatibility, providing three-component coupling adducts with high yields under mild conditions (up to 88%). Mechanism studies show that the reaction may involve a radical process.

NBS/DBU-Promoted One-Pot Three-Component Cycloaddition of Malonic Acid Derivatives, Nitrosoarenes, and Alkenes: Synthesis of Isoxazolidines

A general DBU-mediated one-pot three-component cycloaddition reaction of easily accessible malonic acid derivatives, nitrosoarenes, and alkenes has been successfully established with the aid of NBS to provide direct access to highly functionalized isoxazolidine derivatives with generally good to excellent yields, broad functional group tolerance, and excellent regio- and diastereo-selectivities under mild conditions. The mechanism study shows that the NBS-mediated formation of bromomalonic acid derivatives from malonic acid derivatives and DBU-promoted synthesis of nitrone intermediates via the reaction of bromomalonic acid derivatives with nitrosoarenes are key steps.

N-Alkyl nitrones as substrates for access to N-aryl isoxazolidines via a catalyst-free one-pot three-component reaction with nitroso compounds and olefins

N-Alkyl nitrones are used as starting materials to construct N-aryl isoxazolidines, instead of N-alkyl isoxazolidines or N–H 1,3-oxazinanes via a catalyst-free one-pot three-component reaction with nitrosoarenes and olefins.

Synthesis of isoxazolidines via catalyst-free one-pot three-component cycloaddition of sulfoxonium ylides, nitrosoarenes and alkenes

A general and practical strategy for the construction of various keto-substituted isoxazolidines via one-pot three-component reaction of easily accessible, safer and more stable sulfoxonium ylides, nitrosoarenes and olefins is described.

Synthesis of spirocyclic Δ4-isoxazolines via [3 + 2] cycloaddition of indanone-derived ketonitrones with alkynes

A [3 + 2] cycloaddition of indanone-derived nitrones and alkynes under mild conditions is developed, allowing facile synthesis of spirocyclicindenyl isoxazolines with structural diversity. The sequential protocol of generated in situ ketonitrone from unsaturated ketones and N-alkylhydroxylamines is also achieved successfully, affording the desired products in considerable yield with moderate to good diastereoselectivity. Moreover, the spirocyclic product can be conveniently transformed into indenyl-based allylic alcohol and enamide.

A [3 + 2] cycloaddition of indanone-derived nitrones with alkynes under mild conditions has been developed. It is a highly efficient and straightforward method for the synthesis of diverse spirocyclicindenyl isoxazolines.

Straightforward Approach toward Multifunctionalized Aziridines via Catalyst-Free Three-Component Reactions of α-Diazoesters, Nitrosoarenes, and Alkynes

A straightforward, catalyst-free atom- and step-economical approach for the synthesis of multisubstituted 1-arylaziridine-2-carboxylates via one-pot three-component reactions of α-diazoesters, nitrosoarenes, and alkynes has been described. This method could provide facile access to a variety of multifunctionalized aziridines in up to 91% yields under mild reaction conditions and features the catalyst-free strategy and use of cheap and readily accessible starting materials.

Additive-free regio- and diastereoselective construction of fully-substituted isoxazolidines employing diazo compounds

An efficient additive-free three-component access to densely functionalized isoxazolidines using diazo compounds, nitrosoarene, and allenic esters has been uncovered.

Multicomponent reactions: a sustainable tool to 1,2- and 1,3-azoles

The present review outlines the recent advancements and pioneering efforts on the synthesis of 1,2/1,3-azoles employing a multicomponent strategy.

Direct carboxamidation of cyclic 2-diazo-1,3-diketones by Rh2(OAc)4-catalyzed isocyanide insertion–hydrolysis

A novel and efficient strategy for the synthesis of 2-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex-1-enecarboxamides through a Rh₂(OAc)₄-catalyzed direct carboxamidation of cyclic 2-diazo-1,3-diketones has been developed.

Silica gel-promoted practical synthesis of oxindole–nitrones from diazooxindoles and nitrosoarenes under solvent-free conditions

A practical and efficient method for the synthesis of oxindole–nitrones from diazooxindoles and nitrosoarenes promoted by silica gel was developed.

Gold-catalyzed 1,2-iminonitronation of electron-deficient alkynes with nitrosoarenes to afford α-imidoyl nitrones

Gold-catalyzed 1,2-iminonitronation of diverse propiolate derivatives with nitrosoarenes to give α-imidoyl nitrones is described.

Synthesis of trifluoromethylated isoxazolidines: 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrosoarenes, (trifluoromethyl)diazomethane, and alkenes

Isoxazolidines have proven to be important substrates in synthetic organic chemistry. Limited examples in the literature that provide trifluoromethylated versions of these compounds have prompted us to investigate a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition route providing access to N-functionalized isoxazolidines containing a trifluoromethyl group. Thus, a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrosoarenes, (trifluoromethyl)diazomethane, and alkenes was developed. The starting materials can be synthesized from easy to handle and accessible reagents. The reaction proved to be tolerant of a variety of electron-deficient alkenes and nitrosoarenes.

Organocatalytic multicomponent reaction for the acquisition of a selective inhibitor of mPTPB, a virulence factor of tuberculosis

Mycobacterium protein tyrosine phosphatase B (mPTPB) is essential for the survival and persistence of Mycobacterium in the host. Thus small molecule inhibitors of mPTPB are potential anti-TB agents. We developed an efficient organocatalytic multicomponent reaction (MCR) between pyrrole, formaldehyde and aniline, affording a potent and selective mPTPB inhibitor with an IC(50) value of 1.5 μM and >50-fold specificity. Our studies provide a successful example of using organocatalysis as a discovery tool for the acquisition of PTP inhibitors.

Gold-catalyzed formal [3 + 3] and [4 + 2] cycloaddition reactions of nitrosobenzenes with alkenylgold carbenoids

We report two new formal cycloaddition reactions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenylgold carbenoids. We obtained quinoline oxides 3 in satisfactory yields from the gold-catalyzed [3 + 3]-cycloadditions between nitrosobenzenes and alkenyldiazo esters 1. For propargyl esters 5, its resulting gold carbenes react with nitrosobenzene to give alkenylimine 8, followed by a [4 + 2]-cycloaddition with nitrosobenzene.