Bulky Diamine Ligand Promotes Cross‐Coupling of Difluoroalkyl Bromides by Iron Catalysis

Although iron‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of Grignard reagents with alkyl halides has been well established, the adoption of the reaction for fluoroalkylations has not been reported because traditional catalytic systems often lead to defluorination reactions. Described herein is the investigation of an iron‐catalyzed cross‐coupling between arylmagnesium bromides and difluoroalkyl bromides with modified N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethyl‐ethane‐1,2‐diamine (TMEDA) as a ligand. The use of this bulky diamine, in which a butylene is substituted at one carbon atom of the ethylene backbone in TMEDA, enables the iron‐catalyzed difluoroalkylation under mild reaction conditions with a wide range of difluoroalkyl bromides, including vulnerable bromodifluoromethane, thus providing a general and cost‐efficient route for applications in medicinal chemistry.     

Tandem Difluoroalkylation‐Arylation of Enamides Catalyzed by Nickel

A nickel‐catalyzed three‐component reaction for the synthesis of difluoroalkylated compounds through tandem difluoroalkylation‐arylation of enamides has been developed. The reaction tolerates a variety of arylboronic acids and widely available difluoroalkyl bromides, and even the relatively inert substrate chlorodifluoroacetate. The significant advantages of this protocol are the low‐cost nickel catalyst, synthetic convenience, excellent functional‐group compatibility and high reaction efficiency.     

A General Synthesis of Fluoroalkylated Alkenes by Palladium‐Catalyzed Heck‐Type Reaction of Fluoroalkyl Bromides

An efficient palladium‐catalyzed Heck‐type reaction of fluoroalkyl halides, including perfluoroalkyl bromides, trifluoromethyl iodides, and difluoroalkyl bromides, has been developed. The reaction proceeds under mild reaction conditions with high efficiency and broad substrate scope, and provides a general and straightforward access to fluoroalkylated alkenes which are of interest in life and material sciences.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Decarboxylative Difluoroalkylation of α,β‐Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

The first example of nickel‐catalyzed decarboxylative fluoroalkylation of α,β‐unsaturated carboxylic acids has been developed with commonly available fluoroalkyl halides. This novel transformation has demonstrated broad substrate scope, excellent functional‐group tolerance, mild reaction conditions, and excellent stereoselectivity. Mechanistic investigations indicate that a fluoroalkyl radical is involved in the catalytic cycle.     

Gold‐Catalyzed Highly Selective Photoredox C(sp2)−H Difluoroalkylation and Perfluoroalkylation of Hydrazones

The first gold‐catalyzed photoredox C(sp²)?H difluoroalkylation and perfluoroalkylation of hydrazones with readily available R_F?Br reagents is reported. The resulting gem‐difluoromethylated and perfluoroalkylated hydrazones are highly functionalized, versatile molecules. A mild reduction of the coupling products can efficiently produce gem‐difluoromethylated β‐amino phosphonic acids and β‐amino acid derivatives. In mechanistic studies, a difluoroalkyl radical intermediate was detected by an EPR spin‐trapping experiment, indicating that a gold‐catalyzed radical pathway is operating.     

Synthesis of 1‐Difluoroalkylated Isoquinolines via Palladium‐Catalyzed Radical Cascade Difluoroalkylation–Cyclization of Vinyl Isocyanides with Bromodifluoroacetic Derivatives

A general method was developed for the synthesis of 1‐difluoroalkyl isoquinolines via the palladium‐catalyzed radical cascade difluoroalkylation–cyclization of vinyl isocyanides with bromodifluoroacetic derivatives. The difluoroalkylated cyclization products were readily converted to various other valuable gem ‐difluoro‐containing compounds.     

Fluoroalkylation of Diazo Compounds with Diverse Rfn Reagents

Progress in the transition‐metal‐catalyzed or ‐free fluoroalkylation of diazo compounds with different types of fluoroalkyl (R_fn) transfer reagents is summarized in this review. Special attention is focused on the straightforward trifluoromethylation, gem‐difluoroolefination, trifluoromethoxylation, fluoroalkylthiolation, and trifluoromethylselenolation of diazo substrates. The mechanistic insights and the application of some of the products are also discussed in this article. We believe that this review will inspire both young and experienced chemists to further study the direct fluoroalkylation of diazo compounds as an efficient and convenient way to build complex fluorine‐containing molecules.     

多组分参与的氟烷基化反应研究进展

多组分参与的氟烷基化反应是当前有机氟化学研究的一个热点.在过去的几年里,由于新试剂新方法的不断涌现,多组分参与的氟烷基化反应取得了长足的进展,不仅可以经济有效地一步将氟烷基基团与其他官能团同步引入,而且可以将起始原料转化为多种含有生物活性或药物活性的化合物.按照三组分二氟烷基化反应、三组分三氟甲基化反应、三组分全氟烷基化反应、三组分单氟烷基化反应、三组分氟化反应以及四组分氟烷基化反应和总结7个部分,总结了多组分参与的氟烷基化反应在过去近十年时间里的发展进程,同时对该类反应进行了总结和展望.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Reductive Cross‐Coupling of Aryl Halides with Monofluoroalkyl Halides for Late‐Stage Monofluoroalkylation

A combinatorial nickel‐catalyzed monofluoroalkylation of aryl halides with unactivated fluoroalkyl halides by reductive cross‐coupling has been developed. This method demonstrated high efficiency, mild conditions, and excellent functional‐group tolerance, thus enabling the late‐stage monofluoroalkylation of diverse drugs. The key to success was the combination of diverse readily available bidentate and monodentate pyridine‐type nitrogen ligands with nickel, which in situ generated a variety of readily tunable catalysts to promote fluoroalkylation with broad scope with respect to both coupling partners. This combinatorial catalysis strategy offers a solution for nickel‐catalyzed reductive cross‐coupling reactions and provides an efficient way to synthesize fluoroalkylated druglike molecules for drug discovery.     

Radical Fluoroalkylation of Isocyanides with Fluorinated Sulfones by Visible‐Light Photoredox Catalysis

The radical fluoroalkylation of isocyanides with fluorinated sulfones is enabled by visible‐light photoredox catalysis. A wide range of readily available mono‐, di‐, and trifluoromethyl heteroaryl sulfones can thus be used as efficient radical fluoroalkylation reagents under mild conditions. This method not only describes a new synthetic application of fluorinated sulfones, but also provides a new route to fluoroalkyl radicals.     

Direct Access to α,α‐Difluoroacylated Arenes by Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylation of (Hetero)Aryl Boronic Acid Derivatives

A palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative coupling of (hetero)aryl boronates or boronic acid salts with carbon monoxide and α‐bromo‐α,α‐difluoroamides and bromo‐α,α‐difluoroesters is described herein. The method is useful for the synthesis of a diverse selection of (hetero)aryl α,α‐difluoro‐β‐ketoamides and α,α‐difluoro‐β‐ketoesters, which are useful building blocks for the generation of functionalized difluoroacylated and difluoroalkyl arenes. The method could be further extended to a one‐pot protocol for the formation of difluoroacetophenones.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed C(sp2)−H Alkylation of Aldehyde‐Derived Hydrazones with Functionalized Difluoromethyl Bromides

A palladium‐catalyzed C(sp²)?H difluoromethylation of aldehyde‐derived hydrazones using bromodifluoromethylated compounds to afford the corresponding functionalized difluoromethylketone hydrazones has been established. It is proposed that a radical/SET mechanism proceeding via a difluoroalkyl radical may be involved in the catalytic cycle. Applications of the methodology to the synthesis of α,α‐difluoro‐β‐ketoesters and α,α‐difluoroketones (RCOCF₂H) have been illustrated.     

Recent Advances in Trifluoromethylation Reactions with Electrophilic Trifluoromethylating Reagents

Electrophilic trifluoromethylation reactions have been the latest approach to achieve the fluoroalkylation of compounds with newly‐discovered reagents, such as the Togni’s (1‐trifluoromethyl‐1,2‐benziodoxol‐3‐(1 H)‐one), Umemoto’s (S‐(trifluoromethyl)dibenzothiophenium tetrafluoroborate), Yagupolskii’s (S‐(trifluoromethyldiarylsulfonium salts), Shreeve’s (S‐(trifluoromethyl)dibenzothiophenium triflate), and Shibata’s (trifluoromethylsulfoximine salts) reagents. All these reagents produce an electrophilic trifluoromethylating (CF₃⁺) species that undergoes reaction with nucleophiles. In addition, these latter reactive species (i.e. CF₃⁺) can undergo electron‐transfer (ET) processes affording CF₃ ^? radicals that expand the scope to substrates other than conventional nucleophiles that can undergo reaction. In this Review, we shall discuss the trifluoromethylation reactions of diverse families of organic substrates of biological interest as a means to comparing the reagents scope and best reaction conditions. Some, though not all, of these reactions require the assistance of metal or organometallic catalysts. Some require additives and catalysts to promote the fluoroalkylation reaction, but invariably all are initiated and carried out by electrophilic trifluoromethylating species.     

Photocatalytic reduction of fluoroalkyl-substituted alcohols activated by pentafluoropyridine

A new method for deoxygenation of fluoroalkyl-substituted alcohols involves derivatization of the hydroxy group with pentafluoropyridine followed by photoredox catalyzed reduction of the obtained hetaryl ethers using γ-terpinene as a source of hydrogen. The initial alcohols can be easily obtained by nucleophilic fluoroalkylation of the corresponding aldehydes.     

Visible‐Light‐Promoted Dearomative Fluoroalkylation of β‐Naphthols through Intermolecular Charge Transfer

The first visible‐light‐promoted dearomative fluoroalkylation of β‐naphthols was realized without the assistance of any transition‐metal catalysts or external photosensitizers. Inexpensive fluoroalkyl iodides were directly used as efficient fluoroalkylation reagents under very mild reaction conditions. The scope of this process was found to be general and broad, and both trifluoromethyl and perfluoroalkyl groups (‐C₄F₉, ‐C₆F₁₃, and ‐C₈F₁₇) were installed in excellent yields. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that visible‐light‐promoted intermolecular charge transfer within the naphtholate–fluoroalkyl iodide electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex induces a single electron transfer in the absence of photocatalysts.     

电化学催化下的多氟烷基化反应研究进展

氟化学已经在各行各业受到广泛应用,氟化学和有机化学的结合也遍地生花.由于将氟原子或氟基团引入到药物中具有重要意义,因此寻求一种有效的氟烷基化途径至关重要.随着电化学的发展,人们将电化学和氟烷基化反应进行了巧妙地结合.进而得到了更加安全、经济、环保并且高效的氟烷基化途径.在电化学指导下的氟烷基化反应途径,不仅在反应方式方面进行了革新,同样在底物普适性方面也具有优势.针对不饱和脂肪族化合物及其衍生物和芳香族化合物的电化学催化下的氟烷基化反应已经有诸多报道.根据底物的性质及其反应机理总结了电催化下氟烷基化方法的进展.     

A Convenient Synthesis of Difluoroalkyl Ethers from Thionoesters Using Silver(I) Fluoride

Herein we report the mild and rapid fluorodesulfurization of thionoesters using only silver(I) fluoride. This reaction demonstrates excellent functional group tolerance and complements existing strategies for difluoroalkyl ether synthesis, which rely on toxic and often dangerous reagents that demonstrate limited functional group compatibility. We additionally report the translation of this finding to the production of ¹⁸F-labelled difluoroalkyl ethers using fluoride-derived [¹⁸F]AgF. This new process should enable the synthesis of a wide range of difluoroalkyl ethers with applications in medicinal and materials chemistry, and radiotracer production.     

Catalytic Access to Functionalized Allylic gem‐Difluorides via Fluorinative Meyer–Schuster‐Like Rearrangement

An unprecedented approach for efficient synthesis of functionalized allylic gem‐difluorides via catalytic fluorinative Meyer–Schuster‐like rearrangement is disclosed. This transformation proceeded with readily accessible propargylic fluorides, and low‐cost B–F reagents and electrophilic reagents by sulfide catalysis. A series of iodinated, brominated, and trifluoromethylthiolated allylic gem‐difluorides that were difficult to access by other methods were facilely produced with a wide range of functional groups. Importantly, the obtained iodinated products could be incorporated into different drugs and natural products, and could be expediently converted into many other valuable gem‐difluoroalkyl molecules as well. Mechanistic studies revealed that this reaction went through a regioselective fluorination of alkynes followed by a formal 1,3‐fluorine migration under the assistance of the B–F reagents to give the desired products.     

Free radical fluoroalkylation of terminal alkenes and alkynes with iododifluoromethanesulfonamides

Free radical fluoroalkylation of terminal alkenes and alkynes with iododifluoromethanesulfonamides has been successfully achieved.It was found that both the catalytic amount of sodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) and the stoichiometric amount of triethylborane (Et3B)/air can efficiently initiate the current free-radical atom transfer reaction.     

A Single‐Molecule‐Level Mechanistic Study of Pd‐Catalyzed and Cu‐Catalyzed Homocoupling of Aryl Bromide on an Au(111) Surface

On‐surface Pd‐ and Cu‐catalyzed C?C coupling reactions between phenyl bromide functionalized porphyrin derivatives on an Au(111) surface have been investigated under ultra‐high vacuum conditions by using scanning tunneling microscopy and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. We monitored the isothermal reaction kinetics by allowing the reaction to proceed at different temperatures. We discovered that the reactions catalyzed by Pd or Cu can be described as a two‐phase process that involves an initial activation followed by C?C bond formation. However, the distinctive reaction kinetics and the C?C bond‐formation yield associated with the two catalysts account for the different reaction mechanisms: the initial activation phase is the rate‐limiting step for the Cu‐catalyzed reaction at all temperatures tested, whereas the later phase of C?C formation is the rate‐limiting step for the Pd‐catalyzed reaction at high temperature. Analysis of rate constants of the Pd‐catalyzed reactions allowed us to determine its activation energy as (0.41±0.03) eV.