Recent advances in catalytic enantioselective construction of monofluoromethyl-substituted stereocenters

Chiral organofluorine compounds featuring a monofluoromethyl (CH2F)-substituted stereocenter are often encountered in a number of drugs and bioactive molecules. Consequently, the development of catalytic asymmetric methods for the enantioselective construction of CH2F-substituted stereocenters has made great progress over the past two decades, and a variety of enantioselective transformations have been accordingly established. According to the types of fluorinated reagents or substrates employed, these protocols can be divided into the following major categories: (i) enantioselective ring opening of epoxides or azetidinium salts by fluoride anions; (ii) asymmetric monofluoromethylation with 1-fluorobis(phenylsulfonyl)methane; (iii) asymmetric fluorocyclization of functionalized alkenes with Selectfluor; and (iv) asymmetric transformations involving α-CH2F ketones, α-CH2F alkenes, or other CH2F-containing substrates. This feature article aims to summarize these recent advances and discusses the possible reaction mechanisms, advantages and limitations of each protocol and their applications. Synthetic opportunities still open for further development are illustrated as well. This review article will be an inspiration for researchers engaged in asymmetric catalysis, organofluorine chemistry, and medicinal chemistry.

Current State of Microflow Trifluoromethylation Reactions

The trifluoromethyl group is a powerful structural motif in drugs and polymers; thus, developing trifluoromethylation reactions is an important area of research in organic chemistry. Over the past few decades, significant progress has been made in developing new methods for the trifluoromethylation of organic molecules, ranging from nucleophilic and electrophilic approaches to transition-metal catalysis, photocatalysis, and electrolytic reactions. While these reactions were initially developed in batch systems, more recent microflow versions are highly attractive for industrial applications owing to their scalability, safety, and time efficiency. In this review, we discuss the current state of microflow trifluoromethylation. Approaches for microflow trifluoromethylation based on different trifluoromethylation reagents are described, including continuous flow, flow photochemical, microfluidic electrochemical reactions, and large-scale microflow reactions.

N-Fluoro Ammonium Salts of Cinchona Alkaloids in Enantioselective Electrophilic Fluorination

From 2000, our two research groups independently and simultaneously designed and developed a novel family of electrophilic fluorinating reagents based on the use of Cinchona alkaloids. The chiral N-fluoro ammonium salts demonstrated the highest efficiency compared to prior art in enantioselective electrophilic fluorination for a wide range of substrates. In this account, we tell our respective stories, how the same idea germinated in our laboratories, the characterization of the chiral reagents, the use in stoichiometric quantity then the development of a catalytic version, the application to the synthesis of chiral fluorinated molecules of pharmaceutical interest, and finally the exploitation of our reagents by other teams and for other applications.

Visible-Light Photoredox-Catalyzed Three-Component Reaction of Carbazoles with Alkenes and S-(Difluoromethyl)sulfonium Salt: A Practical Approach to Access Difluoroalkyl-Functionalized Carbazoles

A mild and elegant multicomponent protocol for construction of CF₂H-containing carbazoles was accomplished by visible-light photoredox catalysis with formation of two new C-C bonds in a single step to deliver a wide variety of structurally diverse difluoroalkylated carbazoles in moderate to good yields, featuring mild reaction conditions, synthetic simplicity, broad substrates, and good functional group tolerance.

Transition Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Couplings of Benzylic Sulfone Derivatives

In recent years, the use of organosulfones as a new class of cross-coupling partner in transition-metal catalyzed reactions has undergone significant advancement. In this personal account, our recent investigations into desulfonylative cross-coupling reactions of benzylic sulfone derivatives catalyzed by Pd, Ni, and Cu catalysis is described. Combined with the facile α-functionalizations of sulfones, our methods can be used to form valuable multiply-arylated structures such as di-, tri-, and, tetraarylmethanes from readily available substrates. The reactivity of sulfones can be increased by introducing electron-withdrawing substituents such as 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl and trifluoromethyl groups, which enable more challenging cross-coupling reactions. Reactive intermediates including Cu-carbene complexes were identified as key intermediates in sulfone activation, representing new types of C-SO₂ bond activation processes. These results indicate sulfones are powerful functional groups, enabling new catalytic desulfonylative transformations.

Relativistic four-component MRCISD+Q calculations of the six lowest valence states of molecular F[Formula: see text] anion including Breit interactions

In this study, the potential energy curves of the ground and the excited states of molecular fluorine anion (F[Formula: see text]) were investigated at multireference configuration interaction (MRCISD) with Davidson size-extensivity correction (denoted as +Q) within fully relativistic four-component relativistic framework including Breit interaction. Spectroscopic constants (R_e, ω_e, ω_ex_e, ω_ey_e, D_e,D₀,B_e, α_e, β_e, γ_e ), accurate extended Rydberg analytical form and rovibrational levels for ground state X:[Formula: see text] are presented, as well as spectroscopic constants for non dissociative excited states. For most states these spectroscopic constants are presented for the first time in literature and they are of interest for experimental studies, specially regarding electron attachment of F₂. Results suggest that inclusion of relativistic effects at 4-component level and correlation effects treated at MRCISD+Q level are needed to obtain reliable results, which we report for X:[Formula: see text] ground state's R_e, ω_e and D_e the values of 1.999 Å, 391 cm^- 1 and 1.22 eV, respectively.

Photocatalyzed Radical Relayed Regio- and Stereoselective Trifluoromethylthiolation-Boration

Vinylboronates and alkylboronates are key components in variegated transformations in all aspects of chemical science. This work describes a sequential radical difunctionalization strategy for the construction of fluorine-containing vinylboronates and alkylboronates with the integrated redox-active reagent N-trifluoromethylthiophthalimide. This multifunctional N-S precursor offers a scalable and practical protocol for the trifluoromethylthiolation-borylation of unsaturated hydrocarbons in a highly regio- and stereoselective fashion, which can be further converted into valuable synthons via boryl migration.

The Acidities of Nucleophilic Monofluoromethylation Reagents: An Anomalous α-Fluorine Effect

Fluorine incorporation into organic molecules is expected to lower the pK_a of neighboring functionality via its strong electron-withdrawing effect, and this strategy has been widely exploited in diverse disciplines. Herein, we report a striking anomalous α-fluorine substitution effect on the α-C_sp3 -H acidity. We have experimentally measured the pK_a values of a series of popular nucleophilic monofluoromethylating reagents α-fluoro(phenylsulfonyl)methane derivatives as well as their C-H analogues by Bordwell's overlapping indicator method in dimethyl sulfoxide solution. Contrary to expectations, we found that α-fluorine substituent does not generally enhance but rather weaken the α-C_sp3 -H acidity of most (phenylsulfonyl)methane derivatives. DFT computations reproduce and provide insight into the anomalous α-fluorine effect. A correlation was identified between the C-H pK_a of (phenylsulfonyl)methane derivatives and Mayr's nucleophilicity parameter (N) of the corresponding carbanions.

Deoxyfluorination of acyl fluorides to trifluoromethyl compounds by FLUOLEAD®/Olah's reagent under solvent-free conditions

A new protocol enabling the formation of trifluoromethyl compounds from acyl fluorides has been developed. The combination of FLUOLEAD® and Olah's reagent in solvent-free conditions at 70 °C initiated the significant deoxyfluorination of the acyl fluorides and resulted in the corresponding trifluoromethyl products with high yields (up to 99%). This strategy showed a great tolerance for various acyl fluorides containing aryloyl, (heteroaryl)oyl, or aliphatic acyl moieties, providing good to excellent yields of the trifluoromethyl products. Synthetic drug-like molecules were also transformed into the corresponding trifluoromethyl compounds under the same reaction conditions. A reaction mechanism is proposed.

Current Contributions of Organofluorine Compounds to the Agrochemical Industry

Currently, more than 1,200 agrochemicals are listed and many of these are regularly used by farmers to generate the food supply to support the expanding global population. However, resistance to pesticides is an ever more frequently occurring phenomenon, and thus, a continuous supply of novel agrochemicals with high efficiency, selectivity, and low toxicity is required. Moreover, the demand for a more sustainable society, by reducing the risk chemicals pose to human health and by minimizing their environmental footprint, renders the development of novel agrochemicals an ever more challenging undertaking. In the last two decades, fluoro-chemicals have been associated with significant advances in the agrochemical development process. We herein analyze the contribution that organofluorine compounds make to the agrochemical industry. Our database covers 424 fluoro-agrochemicals and is subdivided into several categories including chemotypes, mode of action, heterocycles, and chirality. This in-depth analysis reveals the unique relationship between fluorine and agrochemicals.

Chlorotrifluoromethylthiolation of Sulfur Ylides for the Formation of Tetrasubstituted Trifluoromethylthiolated Alkenes

Tetrasubstituted trifluoromethylthiolated alkenes can be accomplished directly through the chlorotrifluoromethylthiolation of sulfur ylides utilizing nucleophilic halide reagent and electrophilic SCF₃ reagent. This cascade reaction is mild, highly practical, easy to manipulate, uses catalyst-free conditions, and demonstrates a wide substrate range with excellent functional group tolerance, furnishing E-selective products in good to high yields. The synthetic utility of this approach is documented through gram-scale preparation and late-stage modification of pharmaceutically relevant compounds, making it suitable for drug discovery.

Reagents for Selective Fluoromethylation: A Challenge in Organofluorine Chemistry

The introduction of a monofluoromethyl moiety has undoubtedly become a very important area of research in recent years. Owing to the beneficial properties of organofluorine compounds, such as their metabolic stability, the incorporation of the CH2 F group as a bioisosteric substitute for various functional groups is an attractive strategy for the discovery of new pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the monofluoromethyl unit is also widely used in agrochemistry, in pharmaceutical chemistry, and in fine chemicals. The problems associated with climate change and the growing need for environmentally friendly industrial processes mean that alternatives to the frequently used CFC and HFBC fluoromethylating agents (CH2 FCl and CH2 FBr) are urgently needed and also required by the Montreal Protocol. This has recently prompted many researchers to develop alternative fluoromethylation agents. This Minireview summarizes both the classical and new generation of fluoromethylating agents. Reagents that act via electrophilic, nucleophilic, and radical pathways are discussed, in addition to their precursors.

Regioselective Difunctionalization of 2,6-Difluorophenols Triggered by Sigmatropic Dearomatization

Regioselective difunctionalization of 2,6-difluorophenols with aryl sulfoxides and nucleophiles has been accomplished. The reaction is composed of (1) Pummerer-based [3,3] sigmatropic dearomatization to generate 2,4-cyclohexadienone, (2) Michael addition of a nucleophile, and (3) liberation of HF for rearomatization. Besides the [3,3] rearrangement, [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement from sulfonium ylide generated from alkyl sulfoxide promotes the dearomatization, resulting in installation of α-sulfanylalkyl group.

C-F Arylation of Polyfluorophenols by Means of Sigmatropic Dearomatization/Defluorination Sequence

Selective C-F arylation of polyfluorophenols with aryl sulfoxides has been accomplished by means of a sigmatropic dearomatization/defluorination sequence. This sequence consists of three processes: 1) interrupted Pummerer reaction to form S-O-tethered sulfonium salt; 2) C-C-forming [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangement with dearomatization; and 3) Zn-mediated defluorinative rearomatization. The present biaryl construction provides a facile access to polyfluorinated biaryls that is difficult to synthesize by other methods. The synthetic utility of the strategy is clearly demonstrated by the synthesis of a fluorinated analogue of Maxipost, a potassium channel modulator.

Kitamura Electrophilic Fluorination Using HF as a Source of Fluorine

This review article focused on the innovative procedure for electrophilic fluorination using HF and in situ generation of the required electrophilic species derived from hypervalent iodine compounds. The areas of synthetic application of this approach include fluorination of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, aryl-alkyl ketones, styrene derivatives, α,β-unsaturated ketones and alcohols, homoallyl amine and homoallyl alcohol derivatives, 3-butenoic acids and alkynes.

Establishing Cation and Radical Donor Ability Scales of Electrophilic F, CF3, and SCF3 Transfer Reagents

Because of their unique biological, physical, and chemical properties, organofluorine compounds play an increasingly important role in numerous areas of chemistry and everyday life. However, although fluorine is the most abundant halogen in the earth's crust and ranks 13th in abundance among all elements, naturally occurring organofluorine compounds are rare. Consequently, there is a growing demand for the development of safe and efficient reagents and selective synthetic methodologies for the introduction of fluorine or fluorine-containing groups into organic compounds. A wide variety of shelf-stable electrophilic fluorinating and fluoroalkylating reagents have been developed in the past decades. Some of them have also been shown to act as radical sources. These versatile reagents have promoted revolutionary advances in synthetic fluorine chemistry. These developments of novel reagents and the choice of suitable reagents for new reactions have relied largely on the traditional trial-and-error approach because (i) structure-reactivity relationships and mechanisms of reactions of these reagents are sparse and (ii) the rules that govern the synthesis of non-fluorinated analogues cannot necessarily be transposed to fluorinated compounds ( Cahard , D. ; et al. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2014 , 43 , 135 ), since organic fluorine compounds often exhibit unusual properties. Over the past several years, our studies have aimed at establishing comprehensive cation and radical donor scales of electrophilic F, CF₃, and SCF₃ transfer reagents. We have also developed detailed structure-reactivity relationships. We used density functional theory calculations to systematically investigate the energies required to heterolytically cleave the Y-F/CF₃/SCF₃ bonds to donate electrophilic F/CF₃/SCF₃ groups. We found that these energies can be used as convenient indicators of the relative electrophilic fluorinating/trifluoromethylating/trifluoromethylthiolating strengths of these reagents. We have constructed the first comprehensive cation donor scales for electrophilic F, CF₃, and SCF₃ transfer reagents. In collaboration with Mayr group, we experimentally determined the electrophilicity parameters of SCF₃ transfer reagents and demonstrated the importance of intrinsic barriers for predicting their kinetic reactivity. The recognition of the novel application of a few traditional electrophilic reagents as radical sources prompted us further to construct comprehensive radical donor scales of electrophilic F, CF₃, and SCF₃ transfer reagents. We identified a series of potential new radical F, CF₃, and SCF₃ donors. Single electron transfer was found to exhibit a substantial effect on activation of the Y-CF₃/SCF₃ bonds, significantly facilitating the release of CF₃/SCF₃ radicals. This Account summarizes computational and experimental accomplishments from our group and others to establish the missing links between structure and reactivity for these reagents. Our results pave the way toward the rational optimization, design, and prediction of novel electrophilic fluorinating and fluoroalkylating reagents and new reactions.

Copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylthiolation-peroxidation of alkenes and allenes

Cu-catalyzed trifluoromethylthiolation-peroxidation of alkenes and allenes using AgSCF₃ and tert-butyl hydroperoxide has been developed. The method provides a variety of β-SCF₃ and β-vinyl-SCF₃ peroxides with excellent regio- and chemo-selectivities.

Modular synthesis of α-fluorinated arylmethanes via desulfonylative cross-coupling

α-Fluoromethylarenes are common substructures in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, with the introduction of fluorine often resulting in improved biological activity and stability. Despite recent progress, synthetic routes to α-fluorinated diarylmethanes are still rare. Herein we describe the Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of α-fluorinated benzylic triflones with arylboronic acids affording structurally diverse α-fluorinated diarylmethanes. The ease of synthesis of fluorinated triflones as the key starting materials enables powerful late-stage transformations of known biologically active compounds into fluorinated analogs.

Aryltrifluoromethylative cyclization of unactivated alkenes by the use of PhICF3Cl under catalyst-free conditions

A concise and catalyst-free aryltrifluoromethylative cyclization of unactivated alkenes has been developed herein. The use of PhICF3Cl as a powerful trifluoromethylating agent allows easy transformations. A set of trifluoroethylated carbocycles and aza-hereocycles were efficiently synthesized in good yield and selectivity. A broad substrate scope, mild reaction conditions, and easy operation would make this method well-suited for applications.

Modern Approaches for Asymmetric Construction of Carbon-Fluorine Quaternary Stereogenic Centers: Synthetic Challenges and Pharmaceutical Needs

New methods for preparation of tailor-made fluorine-containing compounds are in extremely high demand in nearly every sector of chemical industry. The asymmetric construction of quaternary C-F stereogenic centers is the most synthetically challenging and, consequently, the least developed area of research. As a reflection of this apparent methodological deficit, pharmaceutical drugs featuring C-F stereogenic centers constitute less than 1% of all fluorine-containing medicines currently on the market or in clinical development. Here we provide a comprehensive review of current research activity in this area, including such general directions as asymmetric electrophilic fluorination via organocatalytic and transition-metal catalyzed reactions, asymmetric elaboration of fluorine-containing substrates via alkylations, Mannich, Michael, and aldol additions, cross-coupling reactions, and biocatalytic approaches.

SF5-Pyridylaryl-λ3-iodonium salts and their utility as electrophilic reagents to access SF5-pyridine derivatives in the late-stage of synthesis

Electrophilic pentafluorosulfanyl (SF₅) heteroarylation of target molecules using novel reagents is described. Unsymmetrical diaryliodonium reagents 1 having 2-SF₅-pyridine have been synthesized in good yields. They are efficient electrophilic reagents for carbon and heterocentered nucleophiles, producing the corresponding SF₅-pyridine derivatives in good to excellent yields.

Anionic Triflyldiazomethane: Generation and Its Application for Synthesis of Pyrazole-3-triflones via [3 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction

The synthesis of pyrazole triflones containing a triflyl group at the 3-position is disclosed. Treatment of 2-diazo-1-phenyl-2-((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)ethan-1-one with nitroalkenes under basic conditions gave pharmaceutically attractive pyrazole 3-triflones in good to high yields. The generation of anionic triflyldiazomethane species followed by the [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction with nitroalkenes is proposed for this transformation. 3-(Difluoromethanesulfonyl)pyrazoles were also synthesized by using a previously unknown anionic (difluoromethanesulfonyl)diazomethane species under a similar strategy.

Nanoarchitectonics from Molecular Units to Living-Creature-Like Motifs

Important points for the fabrication of functional materials are the creation of nanoscale/molecular-scale units and architecting them into functional materials and systems. Recently, a new conceptual paradigm, nanoarchitectonics, has been proposed to combine nanotechnology and other methodologies including supramolecular chemistry, self-assembly and self-organization to satisfy major features of nanoscience and promote the creation of functional materials and systems. In this account article, our recent research results in materials development based on the nanoarchitectonics concept are summarized in two stories, (i) nanoarchitectonics from fullerenes as the simplest nano-units and (ii) dimension-dependent nanoarchitectonics from various structural units. The former demonstrates creativity of the nanoarchitectonics concept only with simple construction stuffs on materials fabrications, and a wide range of material applicability for the nanoarchitectonics strategy is realized in the latter ones.

Silver-induced self-immolative Cl–F exchange fluorination of arylsulfur chlorotetrafluorides: synthesis of arylsulfur pentafluorides

Cl–F exchange fluorination of (Het)ArSF₄Cl without fluorinating reagents is disclosed.

Solid surface vs. liquid surface: nanoarchitectonics, molecular machines, and DNA origami

Comparisons of science and technology between these solid and liquid surfaces would be a good navigation for current-to-future developments.