Search

The biocatalytic toolbox has recently been expanded to include enzyme-catalyzed carbene transfer reactions not occurring in Nature. Herein, we report the development of a biocatalytic strategy for the synthesis of enantioenriched α-trifluoromethyl amines through an asymmetric N-H carbene insertion reaction catalyzed by engineered variants of cytochrome c 552 from Hydrogenobacter thermophilus . Using a combination of protein and substrate engineering, this metalloprotein scaffold was redesigned to enable the synthesis of chiral α-trifluoromethyl amino esters with up to >99% yield and 95:5 er using benzyl 2-diazotrifluoropropanoate as the carbene donor. When the diazo reagent was varied, the enantioselectivity of the enzyme could be inverted to produce the opposite enantiomers of these products with up to 99.5:0.5 er. This methodology is applicable to a broad range of aryl amine substrates, and it can be leveraged to obtain chemoenzymatic access to enantioenriched β-trifluoromethyl-β-amino alcohols and halides. Computational analyses provide insights into the interplay of protein- and reagent-mediated control on the enantioselectivity of this reaction. This work introduces the first example of a biocatalytic N-H carbenoid insertion with an acceptor-acceptor carbene donor, and it offers a biocatalytic solution for the enantioselective synthesis of α-trifluoromethylated amines as valuable synthons for medicinal chemistry and the synthesis of bioactive molecules.

Difluoromethyl amino acids (DFAA) exhibit intriguing biological properties, making them highly desirable motifs in agrochemical and pharmaceutical science. However, stereochemical control of direct difluoromethyl transformation via the difluorocarbene species has not been demonstrated. Here we describe an efficient copper-catalyzed asymmetric difluoromethylation reaction that systematically delivers chiral DFAA as rationally designed mechanism-based inhibitors of PLP-dependent amino acid decarboxylases. The reaction employs difluoromonochloromethane, an abundant raw material, as the direct precursor of difluorocarbene species, enabling the unprecedentedly direct conversion of amino esters into corresponding valuable DFAA products in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. This de novo synthesis creates opportunities to integrate an asymmetric catalytic platform for the preparation of diverse libraries of biologically important DFAA derivatives and will support efforts in both drug discovery and development.

Density functional calculations have provided evidence that a Ag(I)-mediated deconstructive fluorination of N -benzoylated cyclic amines ( LH ) with Selectfluor [(F-TEDA)(BF 4 ) 2 ] begins with an association of the reactants to form a singlet state adduct {[( LH )-Ag]-[F-TEDA] 2+ }. The subsequent formation of an iminium ion intermediate, [ L + -Ag]-HF-[TEDA] + , is, formally, a Ag(I)-mediated hydride abstraction event that occurs in two steps: (a) a formal oxidative addition (OA) of [F-TEDA] 2+ to the Ag(I) center that is attended by an electron transfer (ET) from the substrate ( LH ) to the Ag center (i.e., OA + ET, this process can also be referred to as a F-atom coupled electron transfer), followed by (b) H-atom abstraction from LH by the Ag-coordinated F atom. The overall process involves lower-lying singlet and triplet electronic states of several intermediates. Therefore, we formally refer to this reaction as a two-state reactivity (TSR) event. The C-C bond cleavage/fluorination of the resulting hemiaminal intermediate via a ring-opening pathway has also been determined to be a TSR event. A competing deformylative fluorination initiated by hemiaminal to aldehyde equilibration involving formyl H-atom abstraction by a TEDA 2+ radical dication, decarbonylation, and fluorination of the resulting alkyl radical by another equivalent of Selectfluor may also be operative in the latter step.

The first example of free amine γ-C(sp 3 )-H fluorination is realized using 2-hydroxynicotinaldehyde as the transient directing group. A wide range of cyclohexyl and linear aliphatic amines could be fluorinated selectively at the γ-methyl and methylene positions. Electron withdrawing 3,5-disubstituted pyridone ligands were identified to facilitate this reaction. Computational studies suggest that the turnover determining step is likely the oxidative addition step for methylene fluorination, while it is likely the C-H activation step for methyl fluorination. The explicit participation of Ag results in a lower energetic span for methylene fluorination and a higher energetic span for methyl fluorination, which is consistent with the experimental observation that the addition of silver salt is desirable for methylene but not for methyl fluorination. Kinetic studies on methyl fluorination suggest that the substrate and PdL are involved in the rate-determining step, indicating that the C-H activation step may be partially rate-determining. Importantly, an energetically preferred pathway has identified an interesting pyridone-assisted bimetallic transition state for the oxidative addition step in methylene fluorination, thus uncovering a potential new role of the pyridone ligand.

Molecular editing such as insertion, deletion, and single atom exchange in highly functionalized compounds is an aspirational goal for all chemists. Here, we disclose a photoredox protocol for the replacement of a single fluorine atom with hydrogen in electron-deficient trifluoromethylarenes including complex drug molecules. A robustness screening experiment shows that this reductive defluorination tolerates a range of functional groups and heterocycles commonly found in bioactive molecules. Preliminary studies allude to a catalytic cycle whereby the excited state of the organophotocatalyst is reductively quenched by the hydrogen atom donor, and returned in its original oxidation state by the trifluoromethylarene.

Difluoromethylene-containing compounds have attracted substantial research interest over the past decades for their ability to mimic biological functions of traditional functional groups while providing a wide variety of pharmacological benefits bestowed by the C-F bond. We report a novel strategy to access RCF 2 Br-containing heterocycles by regio- and enantioselective bromocyclization of difluoroalkenes enabled by chiral anion phase-transfer catalysis. The utility of this methodology was highlighted through a synthesis of an analogue of efavirenz, a drug used for treating HIV. Additionally, the synthetic versatility of the CF 2 Br intermediates was showcased through functionalization to a variety of enantioenriched α,α-difluoromethylene-containing products.

The hydrodefluorination of CF 3 -substituted alkenes can be catalyzed by a nickel(II) hydride bearing a pincer ligand. The catalyst loading can be as low as 1 mol%. gem -Difluoroalkenes containing a number of functional groups can be formed in good to excellent yields by a radical mechanism initiated by H• transfer from the nickel hydride. The relative reactivity of various substrates supports the proposed mechanism, as does a TEMPO trapping experiment.

Human ornithine aminotransferase ( h OAT), a pyridoxal 5'-phosphate-dependent enzyme, plays a critical role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Pharmacological selective inhibition of h OAT has been shown to be a potential therapeutic approach for HCC. Inspired by the discovery of the nonselective aminotransferase inactivator (1 R ,3 S ,4 S )-3-amino-4-fluoro cyclopentane-1-carboxylic acid ( 1 ), in this work, we rationally designed, synthesized, and evaluated a novel series of fluorine-substituted cyclohexene analogues, thereby identifying 8 and 9 as novel selective h OAT time-dependent inhibitors. Intact protein mass spectrometry and protein crystallography demonstrated 8 and 9 as covalent inhibitors of h OAT, which exhibit two distinct inactivation mechanisms resulting from the difference of a single fluorine atom. Interestingly, they share a similar turnover mechanism, according to the mass spectrometry-based analysis of metabolites and fluoride ion release experiments. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and electrostatic potential (ESP) charge calculations were conducted, which elucidated the significant influence of the one-fluorine difference on the corresponding intermediates, leading to two totally different inactivation pathways. The novel addition-aromatization inactivation mechanism for 9 contributes to its significantly enhanced potency, along with excellent selectivity over other aminotransferases.

The mechanism of C(sp 2 )-H borylation of fluorinated arenes with B 2 Pin 2 (Pin = pinacolato) catalyzed by bis(phosphino)pyridine ( iPr PNP) cobalt complexes was studied to understand the origins of the uniquely high ortho -to-fluorine regioselectivity observed in these reactions. Variable time normalization analysis (VTNA) of reaction time courses and deuterium kinetic isotope effect measurements established a kinetic regime wherein C(sp 2 )-H oxidative addition is fast and reversible. Monitoring the reaction by in situ NMR spectroscopy revealed the intermediacy of a cobalt(I)-aryl complex that was generated with the same high ortho -to-fluorine regioselectivity associated with the overall catalytic transformation. Deuterium labeling experiments and stoichiometric studies established C(sp 2 )-H oxidative addition of the fluorinated arene as the selectivity-determining step of the reaction. This step favors the formation of ortho -fluoroaryl cobalt intermediates due to the ortho fluorine effect, a phenomenon whereby ortho fluorine substituents stabilize transition metal-carbon bonds. Computational studies provided evidence that the cobalt-carbon bonds of the relevant intermediates in ( iPr PNP)Co-catalyzed borylation are strengthened with increasing ortho fluorine substitution. The atypical kinetic regime involving fast and reversible C(sp 2 )-H oxidative addition in combination with the thermodynamic preference for forming cobalt-aryl bonds adjacent to fluorinated sites are the origin of the high regioselectivity in the catalytic borylation reaction.

Copper oxidative addition into organohalides is a challenging two-electron process. In contrast, formal oxidative addition of copper to C sp 2 carbon-bromine bonds can be accomplished by employing latent silyl radicals under photoredox conditions. This novel paradigm for copper oxidative addition has now been applied to a Cu-catalyzed cross-coupling of C sp 3 -bromides. Specifically, a copper/photoredox dual catalytic system for the coupling of alkyl bromides with trifluoromethyl groups is presented. This operationally simple and robust protocol successfully converts a variety of alkyl, allyl, benzyl, and heterobenzyl bromides into the corresponding alkyl trifluoromethanes.

The mechanism of the aryl iodide-catalyzed asymmetric migratory geminal difluorination of β-substituted styrenes ( Banik et al. Science 2016, 353, 51 ) has been explored with density functional theory computations. The computed mechanism consists of (a) activation of iodoarene difluoride (ArIF 2 ), (b) enantiodetermining 1,2-fluoroiodination, (c) bridging phenonium ion formation via S N 2 reductive displacement, and (d) regioselective fluoride addition. According to the computational model, the ArIF 2 intermediate is stabilized through halogen-π interactions between the electron-deficient iodine(III) center and the benzylic substituents at the catalyst stereogenic centers. Interactions with the catalyst ester carbonyl groups (I(III) + ···O) are not observed in the unactivated complex, but do occur upon activation of ArIF 2 through hydrogen-bonding interactions with external Brønsted acid (HF). The 1,2-fluoroiodination occurs via alkene complexation to the electrophilic, cationic I(III) center followed by C-F bond formation anti to the forming C-I bond. The bound olefin and the C-I bond of catalyst adopt a spiro arrangement in the favored transition structures but a nearly periplanar arrangement in the disfavored transition structures. Multiple attractive non-covalent interactions, including slipped π···π stacking, C-H···O, and C-H···π interactions, are found to underlie the high asymmetric induction. The chemoselectivity for 1,1-difluorination versus 1,2-difluorination is controlled mainly by (1) the steric effect of the substituent on the olefinic double bond and (2) the nucleophilicity of the carbonyl oxygen of substrate.

The installation of trifluoromethyl groups has become an essential step across a number of industries such as agrochemicals, drug discovery, and materials. Consequently, the rapid introduction of this critical functional group in a predictable fashion would benefit current practitioners in those fields. This communication describes a mild trifluoromethylation of benzylic C-H bonds with high selectivity for the least hindered hydrogen atom. The reaction provides monotrifluoromethylation and proceeds in an environmentally friendly acetone/water solvent system. The method can be used to install benzylic trifluoromethyl groups on highly functionalized drug molecules.

Herein we disclose an efficient method for the conversion of carboxylic acids to trifluoromethyl groups via the combination of photoredox and copper catalysis. This transformation tolerates a wide range of functionality including heterocycles, olefins, alcohols, and strained ring systems. To demonstrate the broad potential of this new methodology for late-stage functionalization, we successfully converted a diverse array of carboxylic acid-bearing natural products and medicinal agents to the corresponding trifluoromethyl analogues.

The 18 F-labeling of 5-(trifluoromethyl)-dibenzothiophenium trifluoromethanesulfonate, commonly referred to as the Umemoto reagent, has been accomplished applying a halogen exchange 18 F-fluorination with 18 F-fluoride, followed by oxidative cyclization with Oxone and trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride. This new 18 F-reagent allows for the direct chemoselective 18 F-labeling of unmodified peptides at the thiol cysteine residue.

The incorporation of fluorine can not only significantly facilitate the study of proteins but also potentially modulate their function. Though some biosynthetic methods allow global residue-replacement, post-translational fluorine incorporation would constitute a fast and efficient alternative. Here, we reveal a mild method for direct protein radical trifluoromethylation at native residues as a strategy for symmetric-multifluorine incorporation on mg scales with high recoveries. High selectivity toward tryptophan residues enhanced the utility of this direct trifluoromethylation technique allowing ready study of fluorinated protein constructs using 19 F-NMR.

Cross-coupling reactions of aryl groups with α-fluoro carbonyl compounds catalyzed by palladium complexes have been reported, but palladium fluoroenolate intermediates relevant to such reactions have not been isolated or even detected previously. We report the synthesis, structural characterization, and reactivity of a series of C-bound arylpalladium fluoroenolate complexes ligated by monophosphines and bisphosphines. DPPF-ligated arylpalladium fluoroenolate complexes (DPPF = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ferrocene) derived from a monofluoroester, a difluoroester, difluoroamides, and difluoroacetonitrile underwent reductive elimination in high yields. Reductive elimination was faster from complexes containing less electron-withdrawing fluoroenolate groups and longer Pd-C(enolate) bonds than from complexes containing more electron-withdrawing fluoroenolate groups and shorter Pd-C(enolate) bonds. The rates of reductive elimination from these C-bound fluoroenolate complexes were significantly faster than those of the analogous trifluoromethyl complexes.

The photocatalytic C-F functionalization of highly fluorinated arenes is a powerful method for accessing functionalized multifluorinated arenes. The decisive step in the determining regioselectivity in fluorine functionalization is fluoride fragmentation from the radical anion of the multifluorinated arene. To date, the availability of regioisomers has been dictated by the innate electronics of the fluorinated arene, limiting the synthetic utility of the chemistry. This study investigates the remarkable ability of a strategically located hydrogen bond to transcend the normal regioselectivity of the C-F functionalization event. A significant rate acceleration is additionally observed for hydrodefluorination of fluorines that can undergo intramolecular hydrogen bonds that form 5-8-membered cycles with moderately acidic N-H's. The hydrogen bond is expected to facilitate the fragmentation not only by bending the C-F bond of the radical anion out of planarity but also by increasing the exothermicity of the fluoride extrusion step through protonation of the naked fluoride. Finally, the synthetic utility of the method is demonstrated in an expedited synthesis of the trifluorinated α-phenyl acetic acid derivative required for the commercial synthesis of Januvia, an antidiabetic drug. This represents the first synthesis of a commercially important multifluorinated arene via a defluorination strategy and is significantly shorter than the current strategy.

In the realm of aliphatic fluorination, the problem of reactivity has been very successfully addressed in recent years. In contrast, the associated problem of selectivity, that is, directing fluorination to specific sites in complex molecules, remains a great, fundamental challenge. In this report, we show that the enone functional group, upon photoexcitation, provides a solution. Based solely on orientation of the oxygen atom, site-selective photochemical fluorination is achieved on steroids and bioactive polycycles with up to 65 different sp 3 C-H bonds. We have also found that γ-, β-, homoallylic, and allylic fluorination are all possible and predictable through the theoretical modes reported herein. Lastly, we present a preliminary mechanistic hypothesis characterized by intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer, radical fluorination, and ultimate restoration of the enone. In all, these results provide a leap forward in the design of selective fluorination of complex substrates that should be relevant to drug discovery, where fluorine plays a prominent role.

The transition-metal-catalyzed α-arylation of carbonyl compounds is a widely practiced method for C-C bond formation. Several enantioselective versions of this process have been reported, but intermolecular, enantioselective coupling reactions of aryl electrophiles with α-fluoro carbonyl compounds have yet to be disclosed. We report enantioselective coupling of aryl and heteroaryl bromides and triflates with α-fluoroindanones catalyzed by palladium complexes of a BINOL-derived monophosphine and Segphos, respectively. The enolates were generated directly from α-fluoroindanones in the presence of potassium phosphate base during the reactions. We also report that reactions of α-fluorotetralones occur in high yields and enantioselectivities when conducted with enolates generated by elimination of trifluoroacetate from trifluoromethyl β-diketone hydrates. These reactions were catalyzed by palladium complexes of the commercially available bisphosphine Difluorphos. Thus, the formation of enantioenriched α-aryl-α-fluoroketones can be readily achieved by C-C bond formation when the appropriate palladium catalyst and α-fluoro enolate precursor were used.

The first 4-position-selective C-H perfluoroalkylation and perfluoroarylation of six-membered heteroaromatic compounds were achieved using nucleophilic perfluoroalkylation and perfluoroarylation reagents. The regioselectivity was controlled by electrophilically activating the heteroaromatic rings, while sterically hindering the 2-position, with a sterically bulky borane Lewis acid. The reaction proceeded in good yield, even in gram scale, and by a sequential reaction without isolating the intermediates. This reaction could be applied to late-stage trifluoromethylation of a bioactive compound.

We describe a direct, catalytic approach to the 1,2-difluorination of alkenes. The method utilizes a nucleophilic fluoride source and an oxidant in conjunction with an aryl iodide catalyst and is applicable to alkenes with all types of substitution patterns. In general, the vicinal difluoride products are produced with high diastereoselectivities. The observed sense of stereoinduction implicates anchimeric assistance pathways in reactions of alkenes bearing neighboring Lewis basic functionality.

The development of an enantioselective palladium-catalyzed 1,1-fluoroarylation of unactivated aminoalkenes is described. The reaction uses arylboronic acids as the arene source and Selectfluor as the fluorine source to generate benzylic fluorides in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities. This transformation, likely proceeding through an oxidative Heck mechanism, affords 1,1-difunctionalized alkene products.

In this report, we establish that a readily available nickel/bis(oxazoline) catalyst accomplishes a wide array of enantioconvergent cross-couplings of arylzinc reagents with CF3-substituted racemic secondary alkyl halides, a process that necessitates that the chiral catalyst be able to effectively distinguish between a CF3 and an alkyl group in order to provide good ee. We further demonstrate that this method can be applied without modification to the catalytic asymmetric synthesis of other families of fluorinated organic compounds.

We report an inexpensive, thermally stable deoxyfluorination reagent that fluorinates a broad range of alcohols without substantial formation of elimination side products. This combination of selectivity, safety, and economic viability enables deoxyfluorination on preparatory scale. We employ the [(18)F]-labeled reagent in the first example of a no-carrier-added deoxy-radiofluorination.

The direct conversion of aliphatic carboxylic acids to the corresponding alkyl fluorides has been achieved via visible light-promoted photoredox catalysis. This operationally simple, redox-neutral fluorination method is amenable to a wide variety of carboxylic acids. Photon-induced oxidation of carboxylates leads to the formation of carboxyl radicals, which upon rapid CO2-extrusion and F(•) transfer from a fluorinating reagent yield the desired fluoroalkanes with high efficiency. Experimental evidence indicates that an oxidative quenching pathway is operable in this broadly applicable fluorination protocol.

The monofluoroalkene motif is important in drug development as it serves as a peptide bond isostere and is found in a number of biologically active compounds with various pharmacological activities. Direct olefination of carbonyl compound is a straightforward way to prepare monofluoroalkenes; however, these methods often result in a mixture of Z- and E-isomers that cannot be easily separated. We discovered a unique spontaneous resolving reaction that simultaneously addresses the problems in the synthesis and separation of Z- and E-monofluoroalkenes. The reaction is accompanied by a highly efficient spontaneous kinetic resolution and phase labeling of monofluoroalkene precursors which allows the separation of Z- and E-monofluoroalkenes by liquid-liquid extraction. The application of the method is demonstrated by the synthesis and separation of potential anticancer agents, which are inseparable by HPLC.

The incorporation of fluorine atom into a stereogenic center is a highly challenging transformation with current methodologies offering access mainly to chiral α- and β-fluoroalkanes. In this article, the development of a novel general approach to construct β-, γ-, δ-, and ε- fluoroalkanes with good enantioselectivity is described. Different directing groups, such as benzyl, ketone, and sulfonyl, were shown to give good enantioselectivity under Suzuki cross-coupling conditions in the presence of a Ni catalyst and chiral diamine ligand. It includes the first examples of enantioselective synthesis of chiral fluorine-containing centers at as distant as δ or ε positions from the functional groups.

Hydrogen fluoride (HF) and selected nonbasic and weakly coordinating (toward cationic metal) hydrogen-bond acceptors (e.g., DMPU) can form stable complexes through hydrogen bonding. The DMPU/HF complex is a new nucleophilic fluorination reagent that has high acidity and is compatible with cationic metal catalysts. The gold-catalyzed mono- and dihydrofluorination of alkynes using the DMPU/HF complex yields synthetically important fluoroalkenes and gem-difluoromethlylene compounds regioselectively.

The synthesis of a pentadentate ligand with strategically designed fluorinated arene groups in the second coordination sphere of a nonheme iron center is reported. The oxidatively resistant fluorine substituents allow for the trapping and characterization of an Fe(IV)(O) complex at -20 °C. Upon warming of the Fe(IV)(O) complex, an unprecedented arene C-F hydroxylation reaction occurs. Computational studies support the finding that substrate orientation is a critical factor in the observed reactivity. This work not only gives rare direct evidence for the participation of an Fe(IV)(O) species in arene hydroxylation but also provides the first example of a high-valent iron-oxo complex that mediates aromatic C-F hydroxylation.

"Fluoro" refers to both fluorescent and fluorinated compounds. Despite the shared prefix, there are very few fluorescent molecules that are soluble in perfluorinated solvents. This paucity is surprising, given that optical microscopy is a ubiquitous technique throughout the physical sciences and the orthogonality of fluorous materials is a commonly exploited strategy in synthetic chemistry, materials science, and chemical biology. We have addressed this shortage by synthesizing a panel of "fluorofluorophores," fluorescent molecules containing high weight percent fluorine with optical properties spanning the visible spectrum. We demonstrate the utility of these fluorofluorophores by preparing fluorescent perfluorocarbon nanoemulsions.

The origin of selectivity in the α-fluorination of cyclic ketones catalyzed by cinchona alkaloid-derived primary amines is determined with density functional calculations. The chair preference of a seven-membered ring at the fluorine transfer transition state is key in determining the sense and level of enantiofacial selectivity.

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of alkyl fluorides, particularly α-fluorocarbonyl compounds, has been the focus of substantial effort in recent years. While significant progress has been described in the formation of enantioenriched secondary alkyl fluorides, advances in the generation of tertiary alkyl fluorides have been more limited. Here, we describe a method for the catalytic asymmetric coupling of aryl alkyl ketenes with commercially available N-fluorodibenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) and C6F5ONa to furnish tertiary α-fluoroesters. Mechanistic studies are consistent with the hypothesis that the addition of an external nucleophile (C6F5ONa) is critical for turnover, releasing the catalyst (PPY*) from an N-acylated intermediate. The available data can be explained by a reaction pathway wherein the enantioselectivity is determined in the turnover-limiting transfer of fluorine from NFSI to a chiral enolate derived from the addition of PPY* to the ketene. The structure and the reactivity of the product of this proposed elementary step, an α-fluoro-N-acylpyridinium salt, have been examined.

The development of new approaches to the construction of fluorine-containing target molecules is important for a variety of scientific disciplines, including medicinal chemistry. In this Article, we describe a method for the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of tertiary alkyl fluorides through Negishi reactions of racemic α-halo-α-fluoroketones, which represents the first catalytic asymmetric cross-coupling that employs geminal dihalides as electrophiles. Thus, selective reaction of a C-Br (or C-Cl) bond in the presence of a C-F bond can be achieved with the aid of a nickel/bis(oxazoline) catalyst. The products of the stereoconvergent cross-couplings, enantioenriched tertiary α-fluoroketones, can be converted into an array of interesting organofluorine compounds.

We report a study involving the successful merger of two separate chiral catalytic cycles: a chiral anion phase-transfer catalysis cycle to activate Selectfluor and an enamine activation cycle, using a protected amino acid as organocatalyst. We have demonstrated the viability of this approach with the direct asymmetric fluorination of α-substituted cyclohexanones to generate quaternary fluorine-containing stereocenters. With these two chiral catalytic cycles operating together in a matched sense, high enantioselectivites can be achieved, and we envisage that this dual catalysis method has the potential to be more broadly applicable, given the breadth of enamine catalysis. It also represents a rare example of chiral enamine catalysis operating successfully on α-branched ketones, substrates commonly inert to this activation mode.

We report the Pd-catalyzed α-arylation of α,α-difluoroketones with aryl and heteroaryl bromides and chlorides catalyzed by an air- and moisture-stable palladacyclic complex containing P(t-Bu)Cy2 as ligand. The combination of this Pd-catalyzed arylation and base-induced cleavage of the acyl-aryl C-C bond within the α-aryl-α,α-difluoroketone constitutes a one-pot, two-step procedure to synthesize difluoromethylarenes from aryl halides. A broad range of electronically varied aryl and heteroaryl bromides and chlorides underwent these two transformations, providing α-aryl-α,α-difluoroketones, difluoromethylarenes, and difluoromethylheteroarenes in high yields.

A mild catalytic asymmetric direct fluoro-arylation of styrenes has been developed. The palladium-catalyzed three-component coupling of Selectfluor, a styrene and a boronic acid, provides chiral monofluorinated compounds in good yield and in high enantiomeric excess. A mechanism proceeding through a Pd(IV)-fluoride intermediate is proposed for the transformation and synthesis of an sp(3) C-F bond.

We report herein an operationally simple method for the direct conversion of benzylic C-H groups to C-F. We show that visible light can activate diarylketones to abstract a benzylic hydrogen atom selectively. Adding a fluorine radical donor yields the benzylic fluoride and regenerates the catalyst. The selective formation of mono- and difluorination products can be achieved by catalyst control. 9-Fluorenone catalyzes benzylic C-H monofluorination, while xanthone catalyzes benzylic C-H difluorination. The scope and efficiency of this new C-H fluorination method are significantly better than those of the existing methods. This is also the first report of selective C-H gem-difluorination.

A novel Cu-catalyzed gem-difluoroolefination of diazo compounds is described. This transformation starts from readily available TMSCF3 and diazo compounds, via trifluoromethylation followed by C-F bond cleavage, to afford the desired 1,1-difluoroalkene products.

This Communication describes the Cu(OTf)2-mediated fluorination of aryltrifluoroborates with KF. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions (at 60 °C over 20 h) and shows a broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance. The Cu is proposed to play two separate roles in this transformation: (1) as a mediator for the aryl–F coupling and (2) as an oxidant for accessing a proposed Cu(III)(aryl)(F) intermediate.

We report herein a mild and catalytic phosphonofluorination of unactivated alkenes. With catalysis by AgNO3, the condensation of various unactivated alkenes with diethyl phosphite and Selectfluor reagent in CH2Cl2/H2O/HOAc at 40 °C led to the efficient synthesis of β-fluorinated alkylphosphonates with good stereoselectivity and wide functional group compatibility. A mechanism involving silver-catalyzed oxidative generation of phosphonyl radicals and silver-assisted fluorine atom transfer is proposed.

The first catalytic allylic C-H fluorination reaction using a nucleophilic fluoride source is reported. Under the influence of a Pd/Cr cocatalyst system, simple olefin substrates undergo fluorination with Et3N·3HF in good yields with high branched:linear regioselectivity. The mild conditions and broad scope make this reaction a powerful alternative to established methods for the preparation of allylic fluorides from prefunctionalized substrates.

A novel strategy for aromatic trifluoromethylation by converting aromatic amino group into CF3 group is reported herein. This method, which can be considered as trifluoromethylation variation of the classic Sandmeyer reaction, uses readily available aromatic amines as starting materials and is performed under mild conditions.

Controlling the orientation of highly anisotropic structures of polymers is important because the majority of their mechanical, electronic, and optical properties depend on the orientation of the polymer backbone. In thin films, the polymer chains tend to adopt an orientation parallel to the substrate; therefore, forcing the chains to stand perpendicular to the substrate is challenging. We have developed a simple way to achieve this end-on orientation. We functionalized one end of a poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT) chain with a 1H,1H,2H,2H,3H,3H-perfluoroundecyl group, which caused spontaneous self-segregation of the polymer (P3BT-F17) to the surface of the polymer film. In P3BT-F17/polystyrene (PS) blend films, a highly ordered end-on orientation of the conjugated backbone was observed in the surface-segregated layer of the crystalline P3BT-F17. Furthermore, when the film was spin-coated from a mixture of P3BT-F17 and P3BT, the chain orientation of P3BT-F17 at the surface forced the P3BT in the bulk of the film to adopt the end-on orientation because of the high crystallinity of P3BT. The electronic conductivity measured perpendicular to the film surface also reflected the end-on orientation in the bulk, resulting in a more than 30-fold enhancement of the hole mobility.

A copper-promoted trifluoromethylation reaction of aromatic amines is described. This transformation proceeds smoothly under mild conditions and exhibits good tolerance of many synthetically relevant functional groups. It provides an alternative approach for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated arenes and heteroarenes. It also constitutes a new example of the Sandmeyer reaction.

Chiral anion phase-transfer catalysis has enabled the direct and highly enantioselective fluorinative dearomatization of phenols catalyzed by a BINOL-derived phosphate. The process efficiently transforms simple, readily available phenols into fluorinated chiral small molecules bearing reactive functionality under ambient reaction conditions with high enantioselectivity. The close relationship of the products with well-studied o-quinols provides numerous avenues for synthetic elaboration and exciting opportunities for bioisosteric replacement of hydroxyl with fluorine in natural products.

Aldol reactions with trifluoroacetophenones as acceptors yield chiral α-aryl, α-trifluoromethyl tertiary alcohols, valuable intermediates in organic synthesis. Of the various organocatalysts examined, Singh's catalyst [(2S)-N-[(1S)-1-hydroxydiphenylmethyl-3-methylbutyl]-2-pyrrolidinecarboxamide] was found to efficiently promote this organocatalytic transformation in a highly enantioselective manner. Detailed reaction monitoring ((19)F-NMR, HPLC) showed that, up to full conversion, the catalytic transformation proceeds under kinetic control and affords up to 95% ee in a time-independent manner. At longer reaction times, the catalyst effects racemization. For the product aldols, even weak acids (such as ammonium chloride) or protic solvents, can induce racemization, too. Thus, acid-free workup, at carefully chosen reaction time, is crucial for the isolation of the aldols in high (and stable) enantiomeric purity. As evidenced by (19)F-NMR, X-ray structural analysis, and independent synthesis of a stable intramolecular variant, Singh's catalyst reversibly forms a catalytically inactive ("parasitic") intermediate, namely a N,O-hemiacetal with trifluoroacetophenones. X-ray crystallography also allowed the determination of the product aldols' absolute configuration (S).

The synthesis of aryl fluorides has been studied intensively because of the importance of aryl fluorides in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials. The stability, reactivity, and biological properties of aryl fluorides can be distinct from those of the corresponding arenes. Methods for the synthesis of aryl fluorides, however, are limited. We report the conversion of a diverse set of aryl iodides to the corresponding aryl fluorides. This reaction occurs with a cationic copper reagent and silver fluoride. Preliminary results suggest this reaction is enabled by a facile reductive elimination from a cationic arylcopper(III) fluoride.

This communication describes the development of a mild method for the cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with CF(3)I via the merger of photoredox and Cu catalysis. This method has been applied to the trifluoromethylation of electronically diverse aromatic and heteroaromatic substrates and tolerates many common functional groups.

The development of new synthetic technologies for the selective fluorination of organic compounds has increased with the escalating importance of fluorine-containing pharmaceuticals. Traditional methods potentially applicable to drug synthesis rely on the use of ionic forms of fluorine (F(-) or F(+)). Radical methods, while potentially attractive as a complementary approach, are hindered by a paucity of safe sources of atomic fluorine (F(•)). A new approach to alkyl fluorination has been developed that utilizes the reagent N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide as a fluorine transfer agent to alkyl radicals. This approach is successful for a broad range of alkyl radicals, including primary, secondary, tertiary, benzylic, and heteroatom-stabilized radicals. Furthermore, calculations reveal that fluorine-containing ionic reagents are likely candidates for further expansion of this approach to polar reaction media. The use of these reagents in alkyl radical fluorination has the potential to enable powerful new transformations that otherwise would take multiple synthetic steps., (© 2012 American Chemical Society)

A mechanistic investigation of the Pd-catalyzed conversion of aryl triflates to fluorides is presented. Studies reveal that C-F reductive elimination from a LPd(II)(aryl)F complex (L = t-BuBrettPhos or RockPhos) does not occur when the aryl group is electron rich. Evidence is presented that a modified phosphine, generated in situ, serves as the actual supporting ligand during catalysis with such substrates. A preliminary study of the reactivity of a LPd(II)(aryl)F complex based on this modified ligand is reported.