Chlorodefluorination Induced by Gallium-Based Lewis Acids

The reaction of [Ga(C2F5)3(FSiMe3)] with chlorotrimethylsilane leads to the selective substitution of the α-fluorine atoms by chlorine atoms and thus to the formation of [Ga(CCl2CF3)3(FSiMe3)]. The corresponding chlorogallate ion, [Ga(CCl2CF3)3Cl]-, could be isolated and structurally characterized as its tetraphenylphosphonium salt. The catalytic potential of [Ga(CCl2CF3)3(FSiMe3)] was demonstrated via the chlorodefluorination of Me3SiCF3, 2,2-difluoropropane and [PPh4][Ga(C2F5)4].

On-Surface Covalent Synthesis of Carbon Nanomaterials by Harnessing Carbon gem-Polyhalides

The design of innovative carbon-based nanostructures stands at the forefront of both chemistry and materials science. In this context, π-conjugated compounds are of great interest due to their impact in a variety of fields, including optoelectronics, spintronics, energy storage, sensing and catalysis. Despite extensive research efforts, substantial knowledge gaps persist in the synthesis and characterization of new π-conjugated compounds with potential implications for science and technology. On-surface synthesis has emerged as a powerful discipline to overcome limitations associated with conventional solution chemistry methods, offering advanced tools to characterize the resulting nanomaterials. This review specifically highlights recent achievements in the utilization of molecular precursors incorporating carbon geminal (gem)-polyhalides as functional groups to guide the formation of π-conjugated 0D species, as well as 1D, quasi-1D π-conjugated polymers, and 2D nanoarchitectures. By delving into reaction pathways, novel structural designs, and the electronic, magnetic, and topological features of the resulting products, the review provides fundamental insights for a new generation of π-conjugated materials.

A review of frustrated Lewis pair enabled monoselective C-F bond activation

Frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) bond activation chemistry has greatly developed over the last two decades since the seminal report of metal-free reversible hydrogen activation. Recently, FLP systems have been utilized to allow monoselective C-F bond activation (at equivalent sites) in polyfluoroalkanes. The problem of 'over-defluorination' in the functionalization of polyfluoroalkanes (where multiple fluoro-positions are uncontrollably functionalized) has been a long-standing chemical problem in fluorocarbon chemistry for over 80 years. FLP mediated monoselective C-F bond activation is complementary to other solutions developed to address 'over-defluorination' and offers several advantages and unique opportunities. This perspective highlights some of these advantages and opportunities and places the development of FLP mediated C-F bond activation into the context of the wider effort to overcome 'over-defluorination'.

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.

Insights into the Mechanism of Aluminum-Catalyzed Halodefluorination

Aluminum has been reported to catalyze halodefluorination reactions, where aliphatic fluorine is substituted with a heavier halogen. Although it is known that stoichiometric aluminum halide can perform this reaction, the role of catalytic aluminum halide and organyl alane reagents is not well understood. We investigate the mechanism of the halodefluorination reaction using catalytic aluminum halide and stoichiometric trimethylsilyl halide. We explore the use of B(C₆F₅)₃ as a catalyst to benchmark pathways where aluminum acts either as a Lewis acid catalyst in cooperation with trimethylsilyl halide or as an independent halodefluorination reagent which is subsequently regenerated by trimethylsilyl halide. Computational and experimental results indicate that aluminum acts as an independent halodefluorination reagent and that reactivity trends observed between different halide reagents can be attributed to relative barriers in halide delivery to the organic fragment, which is the rate-limiting step in both the aluminum halide- and B(C₆F₅)₃-catalyzed pathways.

Direct Syntheses of Diphenylmethanol Derivatives from Substituted Benzenes and CHCl3 through Friedel-Crafts Alkylation and Post-Synthetic Hydrolysis or Alcoholysis Catalyzed by Alumina

The present study reports an innovative finding that alumina containing water or primary alcohol catalyzes the hydrolysis or alcoholysis, respectively, of the product formed through AlCl3 -mediated Friedel-Crafts alkylation of methyl-substituted benzenes and CHCl3 . The former and later reactions mainly provided hydroxy- and alkoxy-substituted diarylmethanes, respectively, while the reference reactions without alumina provided bisarylchloromethane. This method enables the selective syntheses of diphenylmethanol derivatives with very simple procedures, without expensive reagents and apparatuses. Furthermore, the alumina used in the reaction could be recycled by washing with water and subsequent drying. From the viewpoint of material recycling, this function is very important for the development of sustainable chemical reactions.

A Review on the Halodefluorination of Aliphatic Fluorides

Halodefluorination of alkyl fluorides using group 13 metal halides has been known for quite some time (first reported by Newman in 1938) and is often utilized in its crude stoichiometric form to substitute fluorine with heavier halogens. However, recently halodefluorination has undergone many developments. The reaction can be effected with a range of metal halide sources (including s-block, f-block, and p-block metals), and has been developed into a catalytic process. Furthermore, methods for monoselective halodefluorination in polyfluorocarbons have been developed, allowing exchange of only a single fluorine with a heavier halogen. The reaction has also found use in cascade processes, where the final product may not even contain a halide, but where the conversion of fluorine to a more reactive halogen is a pivotal reaction step in the cascade. This review provides a summary of the developments in the reaction from its inception until now.

1 Introduction

2 Stoichiometric Halodefluorination

2.1 Group 13 Halodefluorination Reagents

2.2 Other Metal Halide Mediated Halodefluorination

3 Catalytic Halodefluorination

4 Monoselective Halodefluorination

5 Cascade Reactions Involving Halodefluorination

6 Summary and Outlook

Selective C-F Bond Allylation of Trifluoromethylalkenes

Selective C-F bond functionalization of CF₃ group represents an appealing strategy for the incorporation of pharmaceutically privileged difluoromethylene moiety. Despite the recent significant advancement attained in the functionalization of Ar-CF₃ molecules, prescriptions amenable for alkenyl-CF₃ congeners remain sufficiently inadequate. Herein, we report a strategically novel protocol for the C-F bond elaboration of trifluoromethylalkene derivatives. By using readily available allyl metallics as nucleophilic coupling partner, the present reaction enables an expedient construction of structurally diversified CF₂ -bridged 1,5-dienes. Furthermore, the exquisite selectivity observed in this transformation is revealed to be based on the underlying mechanism that consists of a cascade of nucleophilic S_N 2' defluorinative allylation and electronically promoted Cope rearrangement.

C-F bond activation under transition-metal-free conditions

The unique properties of fluorine-containing organic compounds make fluorine substitution attractive for the development of pharmaceuticals and various specialty materials, which have inspired the evolution of diverse C-F bond activation techniques. Although many advances have been made in functionalizations of activated C-F bonds utilizing transition metal complexes, there are fewer approaches available for nonactivated C-F bonds due to the difficulty in oxidative addition of transition metals to the inert C-F bonds. In this regard, using Lewis acid to abstract the fluoride and light/radical initiator to generate the radical intermediate have emerged as powerful tools for activating those inert C-F bonds. Meanwhile, these transition-metal-free processes are greener, economical, and for the pharmaceutical industry, without heavy metal residues. This review provides an overview of recent C-F bond activations and functionalizations under transition-metal-free conditions. The key mechanisms involved are demonstrated and discussed in detail. Finally, a brief discussion on the existing limitations of this field and our perspective are presented.

Complete deconstruction of SF6 by an aluminium(I) compound

The room-temperature activation of SF₆, a potent greenhouse gas, is reported using a monovalent aluminium(i) reagent to form well-defined aluminium(iii) fluoride and aluminium(iii) sulfide products. New reactions have been developed to utilise the aluminium(iii) fluoride and aluminium(iii) sulfide as a nucleophilic source of F⁻ and S²⁻ for a range of electrophiles. The overall reaction sequence results in the net transfer of fluorine or sulfur atoms from an environmentally detrimental gas to useful organic products.

The room-temperature activation of SF₆, a potent greenhouse gas, is reported using a monovalent aluminium(i) reagent to form well-defined aluminium(iii) fluoride and aluminium(iii) sulfide products.

Iron-Catalyzed Halogen Exchange of Trifluoromethyl Arenes*

The facile production of ArCF₂ X and ArCX₃ from ArCF₃ using catalytic iron(III)halides is reported, which constitutes the first iron-catalyzed halogen exchange for non-aromatic C-F bonds. Theoretical calculations suggest direct activation of C-F bonds by iron coordination. ArCX₃ and ArCF₂ X products of the reaction are synthetically valuable due to their diversification potential. In particular, chloro- and bromodifluoromethyl arenes (ArCF₂ Cl, ArCF₂ Br respectively) provide access to a myriad of difluoromethyl arene derivatives (ArCF₂ R). To optimize for mono-halogen exchange, a statistical method called Design of Experiments was used. Optimized parameters were successfully applied to electron rich and electron deficient aromatic substrates, and to the late stage diversification of flufenoxuron, a commercial insecticide. These methods are highly practical, being run at convenient temperatures and using inexpensive common reagents.

Unexpected rearrangements and a novel synthesis of 1,1-dichloro-1-alkenones from 1,1,1-trifluoroalkanones with aluminium trichloride

A novel reactivity of 1,1,1-trifluoroalkanones is reported, where the reaction with AlCl3 results in the formation of 1,1-dichloro-1-alkenones. The reaction scope was found to be broad, with various chain lengths and aryl substituents tolerated. For substrates containing an electron-rich aromatic ring, further reactions take place, resulting in bicyclic and/or rearrangement products.

Recent trends in dehydroxylative trifluoro-methylation, -methoxylation, -methylthiolation, and -methylselenylation of alcohols

This review studies on the direct dehydroxylative trifluoromethylation, trifluoromethoxylation, trifluoromethylthiolation, and trifluoromethylselenylation of alcohols.

Single C-F Transformations of o-Hydrosilyl Benzotrifluorides with Trityl Compounds as All-in-One Reagents

A facile method to prepare difluoromethylenes, including α,α-difluorobenzyl chlorides, by single C-F transformations of benzotrifluorides is disclosed. The C-F cleavage followed by chlorination proceeded smoothly using trityl chloride through the generation of trityl cation as an activator and chloride anion as a nucleophile. Diverse difluoromethylenes such as difluorobenzyl ethers were efficiently prepared by virtue of the good versatility of the resulting chloro and fluorosilyl groups.

Aluminum-catalyzed tunable halodefluorination of trifluoromethyl- and difluoroalkyl-substituted olefins

Herein, we report unprecedented aluminum-catalyzed halodefluorination reactions of trifluoromethyl- and difluoroalkyl-substituted olefins with bromo- or chlorotrimethylsilane. The interesting feature of these reactions is that one, two, or three fluorine atoms can be selectively replaced with bromine or chlorine atoms by modification of the reaction conditions. The generated products can undergo a variety of subsequent transformations, thus constituting a valuable stock of building blocks for installing fluorine-containing olefin motifs in other molecules.

Aluminum-catalyzed halodefluorination reactions of fluoroalkyl-substituted olefins are developed. The reactions can selectively deliver mono-, di-, or trisubstituted products.

Selective Monodefluorination and Wittig Functionalization of gem-Difluoromethyl Groups to Generate Monofluoroalkenes

Monodefluorination of gem-difluoromethyl groups is achieved using a frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) approach. Triarylphosphines and group 13 Lewis acids were surveyed as FLP components, with the combination of P( o-Tol)₃ and B(C₆F₅)₃ found to provide the best results, although the reaction is feasible with more economical components (PPh₃ and BF₃·OEt₂). The α-fluoroalkylphosphonium products arising from the reaction were of lower activity, in regard to further fluoride abstraction, as compared to difluoride starting materials, leading to highly selective monodefluorination. The activated substrates were subject to Wittig reaction protocols to generate a variety of monofluoroalkenes in moderate to high yields.

Base-Promoted Synthesis of 2-Aryl Quinazolines from 2-Aminobenzylamines in Water

A transition-metal-free procedure for the synthesis of a highly valuable class of heteroaromatics, quinazolines, was developed by using easily available 2-aminobenzylamines and α,α,α-trihalotoluenes. The transformation proceeded smoothly in the presence of only sodium hydroxide and molecular oxygen in water at 100 °C, furnishing a variety of 2-aryl quinazolines. The crystallization process of the crude reaction mixture for the purification of the solid products circumvents huge solvent-consuming workup and column chromatographic techniques, which make the overall process more sustainable and economical.

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.

Et3GeH versus Et3SiH: controlling reaction pathways in catalytic C–F bond activations at a nanoscopic aluminum chlorofluoride

Catalytic C–F activations at Lewis-acidic amorphous aluminum chlorofluoride (ACF) with Et₃GeH and Et₃SiH for reaction pathway control are presented.

The selective activation of a C–F bond with an auxiliary strong Lewis acid: a method to change the activation preference of C–F and C–H bonds

Selective activations of C–F bond in substituted (2,6-difluorophenyl)phenylimines by Fe(PMe₃)₄ with an auxiliary strong Lewis acid were explored.