A versatile and highly stereoselective access to vinyl triflates derived from 1,3-dicarbonyl and related compounds

1,3-Dicarbonyl derivatives, such as 1,3-diketones, beta-ketoaldehydes, beta-ketoesters, beta-ketoamides, beta-ketophosphonates and beta-ketosulfones were efficiently converted to the corresponding Z vinyl triflates with high stereoselectivity. Precoordination with lithium triflate in dichloromethane and enolization with mild bases such as trialkylamines or DBU followed by trapping with triflic anhydride probably accounted for such high selectivity, achieved even at 0 degrees C. This method offers the first direct route to vinyl triflates from beta-ketoamides, beta-ketophosphonates and beta-ketosulfones.     

Stereochemistry and mechanism of acylation of acetylenes

The addition of acid chloride-AlCl₃ complexes and of acyl triflates to several acetylenes has been performed. Evidence is given that these additions occur at least partly through a vinyl cation intermediate. In the case of aroyl chlorides or aroyl triflates the intermediate vinyl cation can be attacked by the aromatic nucleus of the aroyl group, leading to the formation of indenones. The difference in behaviour between aroyl chloride-AlCl₃ complexes and aroyl triflates is explained by the hardness of the triflate anion as a nucleophile, compared to the tetrachloraluminate anion. Further evidence for the intermediate vinyl cation is found in the formation of rearranged products in the addition of 3,5 dimethoxybenzoyl chloride-AlCl₃ complex and benzoyl triflate to 4,4-dimethyl-2-pentyne.     

Conjugate addition of allyl stannanes with concomitant triflation

A new method for the conjugate addition of allyltributylstannane with concomitant triflation is described. This reaction works with functionalized enones, enals, enoates, and vinylogous esters. The resulting vinyl triflates can be used for intramolecular Heck reactions to afford the products of 5-exo-trig cyclization.     

Stereospecific ester activation in nitrite-mediated carbohydrate epimerization

[reaction: see text] The Lattrell-Dax method of nitrite-mediated substitution of carbohydrate triflates is an efficient method to generate structures of inverse configuration. In the present study, epimerization of gluco- and galactopyranoside derivatives to the corresponding allo- and gulopyranoside structures by triflation/nitrite treatment has been investigated. It was found that a neighboring ester group was essential for the reactivity of the nitrite-mediated triflate inversion. Furthermore, a good inversion yield also depended on the relative configuration of the neighboring ester group to the triflate. Only with the ester group in the equatorial position, whatever the configuration of the triflate, did the reaction proceed smoothly, whereas a neighboring axial ester group proved largely inefficient. The results were subsequently used to predict the inversion of glucopyranoside derivatives to the mannopyranoside epimers.     

Synthesis of α‐Trifluoromethylated Ketones from Vinyl Triflates in the Absence of External Trifluoromethyl Sources

A novel method for the conversion of vinyl triflates into α‐trifluoromethylated ketones in the absence of external trifluoromethyl sources is described. This process accomplishes an efficient migration of the trifluoromethyl group of the triflate to the α‐position in the ketone through a radical process. The reaction proceeds by the addition of a trifluoromethyl radical to the vinyl triflate and subsequent fragmentation of the trifluoromethane sulfonyl radical. Based on this reaction, a one‐pot two‐step procedure for the trifluoromethylation of ketones was developed. The method presented herein also allows the transfer of perfluoroalkyl groups from vinyl perfluoroalkanesulfonates, which are readily accessible from alkynes and perfluoroalkanesulfonic acids.     

Sequential aminodiene Diels-Alder approach to the ergoline skeleton

Through a novel sequence of aminodiene Diels-Alder reactions, several substituted amidofurans were readily converted to tricyclic ketones in good yield. The formation of the tricyclic ketone system is the result of a ring opening and dehydration of a transient oxabicyclic adduct formed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition of an amidofuran with a cyclohexenone moiety tethered such that it participates in the cycloaddition as the 2pi component. A convenient way to construct the cyclohexenone is to make use of some aminodiene chemistry developed by Rawal. An angular carbomethoxy group is required in order to activate the olefin toward cycloaddition with Rawal's diene. The presence of this activating group not only prevents the isomerization of the advanced ergoline intermediate to a naphthalene but can also be leveraged for an oxidation to provide Uhle's ketone (13). The easily formed Kornfeld ketone analogue 25 was readily transformed into the corresponding triflate 41 by the action of triflic anhydride and a base. Oxidative addition of vinyl triflate 41 to Pd(0) and the ability of the resulting vinyl palladium species to undergo cross-coupling with terminal alkynes prompted us to devise an expeditious route to lysergic acid. Unfortunately, our inability to carry out a regioselective Heck reaction using vinyl triflate 41 and the methylene amino acrylate ester 48 thwarted the completion of the synthesis of lysergic acid.     

Vinyl carbocations: solution studies of alkenyl(aryl)iodonium triflate fragmentations

Generation of vinyl cations is facile by fragmentation of alkenyl(aryl)iodonium trifluoromethanesulfonates. Kinetics and electronic effects were probed by (1)H NMR spectroscopy in CDCl(3). Products of fragmentation include six enol triflate isomers in addition to iodoarenes. The enol triflates arise from direct reaction of a triflate anion with the starting iodonium salts as well as triflate reaction with rearranged secondary cations derived from those salts. G2 calculations of the theoretical isodesmic hydride-transfer reaction between secondary vinyl cation 7 and primary vinyl cation 6 reveal that cation 6 is 17.8 kcal/mol higher in energy. Activation parameters for fragmentation of (Z)-2-ethyl-1-hexenyl(3,5-bis-trifluoromethylphenyl)iodonium triflate, 17e, were calculated using the Arrhenius equation: E(a) = 26.8 kcal/mol, Delta H(++) = 26.2 kcal/mol, and Delta S(++) = 11.9 cal/mol x K. Added triflate increases the rate of fragmentation slightly, and it is likely that for most beta,beta-dialkyl- substituted vinylic iodonium triflates enol triflate fragmentation products are derived from three competing mechanisms: (a) vinylic S(N)()2 substitution; (b) ligand coupling (LC); and (c) concerted aryliodonio departure and 1,2-alkyl shift leading to secondary rather than primary vinyl cations.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of (Z)-β-Enamido Triflates and Fluorosulfonates from N-Fluoroalkylated Triazoles

N-Fluoroalkylated 1,2,3-triazoles in the presence of triflic acid or fluorosulfonic acid underwent a cascade reaction consisting of triazole protonation, ring opening, nitrogen elimination, sulfonate addition, HF elimination, and hydrolysis to furnish novel trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy- or fluorosulfonyloxy-substituted enamides, respectively, in a highly stereoselective fashion. The vinyl triflates underwent cross-coupling reactions to a variety of substituted enamides and serve as sources of the aminovinyl cations. In reactions with triflic acid, electron-rich triazoles afforded 2-fluoroalkylated oxazoles.     

On the role of triflic acid in the metal triflate-catalysed acylation of alcohols

The acylation of alcohols by anhydrides, catalysed by a wide range of metal triflates, is a powerful and mild method for the preparation of a variety of esters. Mechanistic insights demonstrate that triflic acid is generated under these reaction conditions and that, at least, two competing catalytic cycles are operating at the same time: a rapid one involving triflic acid and a slower one involving the metal triflate.     

Hydroamination and hydroalkoxylation catalyzed by triflic acid. Parallels to reactions initiated with metal triflates

Intermolecular additions of the O-H bonds of phenols and alcohols and the N-H bonds of sulfonamides and benzamide to olefins catalyzed by 1 mol % of triflic acid and studies to define the relationship between these reactions and those catalyzed by metal triflates are reported. Cyclization of an alcohol containing pendant monosubstituted and trisubstituted olefins catalyzed by either triflic acid or metal triflates form products from addition to the more substituted olefin, and additions of tosylamide catalyzed by triflic acid or metal triflates form indistinguishable ratios of the two N-alkyl sulfonamides.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of triflic acid and triflate ion/water mixtures: a proton conducting electrolytic component in fuel cells

Triflic acid is a functional group of perflourosulfonated polymer electrolyte membranes where the sulfonate group is responsible for proton conduction. However, even at extremely low hydration, triflic acid exists as a triflate ion. In this work, we have developed a force-field for triflic acid and triflate ion by deriving force-field parameters using ab initio calculations and incorporated these parameters with the Optimized Potentials for Liquid Simulations - All Atom (OPLS-AA) force-field. We have employed classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the developed force field to characterize structural and dynamical properties of triflic acid (270-450 K) and triflate ion/water mixtures (300 K). The radial distribution functions (RDFs) show the hydrophobic nature of CF(3) group and presence of strong hydrogen bonding in triflic acid and temperature has an insignificant effect. Results from our MD simulations show that the diffusion of triflic acid increases with temperature. The RDFs from triflate ion/water mixtures shows that increasing hydration causes water molecules to orient around the SO(3)(-) group of triflate ions, solvate the hydronium ions, and other water molecules. The diffusion of triflate ions, hydronium ion, and water molecules shows an increase with hydration. At λ = 1, the diffusion of triflate ion is 30 times lower than the diffusion of triflic acid due to the formation of stable triflate ion-hydronium ion complex. With increasing hydration, water molecules break the stability of triflate ion-hydronium ion complex leading to enhanced diffusion. The RDFs and diffusion coefficients of triflate ions, hydronium ions and water molecules resemble qualitatively the previous findings using per-fluorosulfonated membranes.     

Secondary benzylation using benzyl alcohols catalyzed by lanthanoid, scandium, and hafnium triflate

The combination of a secondary benzyl alcohol and a metal triflate (e.g., La, Yb, Sc, and Hf triflate) in nitromethane was a highly effective secondary-benzylation system. Secondary benzylation of carbon (aromatic compounds, olefins, an enol acetate), nitrogen (amide derivatives), and oxygen (alcohols) nucleophiles was carried out with a secondary benzyl alcohol and 0.01-1 mol % of a metal triflate in the presence of water. Secondary benzyl alcohols and nucleophiles bearing acid-sensitive functional groups (e.g., tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy and acetoxy groups and methyl and benzyl esters) could be used for alkylation. Hf(OTf)4 was the most active catalyst for this alkylation, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (triflic acid, TfOH) was also a good catalyst. The catalytic activity of metal triflates and TfOH increased in the order La(OTf)3 < Yb(OTf)3 < TfOH < Sc(OTf)3 < Hf(OTf)4. A mechanistic study was also performed. The reaction of 1-phenylethanol (4a) in the presence of Sc(OTf)3 in nitromethane gave an equilibrium mixture of 4a and bis(1-phenylethyl) ether (54). Addition of a carbon nucleophile to the equilibrium mixture gave alkylated product in high yield.     

Synthesis and functionalization of Poly[5,5′‐(silylene)‐2,2′‐dithienylene]s using silyl triflate intermediates†

Treatment of 5,5′‐dilithio‐2,2′‐dithiophene with (dimethylamino)methylsily bis(triflate)‐ or α, ω‐bis(triflate)‐substituted trisilanes gave poly[5,5′‐(silylene)‐2,2′‐dithienylene]s in high yields. The amino–silyl bond was cleaved selectively by triflic acid, leading to triflate‐substituted derivatives. Conversion of these compounds with nucleophiles gave other functionalized polymers. Platinum‐catalyzed hydrosilylation reactions between silicon–vinyl and silicon–hydrogen derivatives result in polymer networks which may serve as interesting preceramic materials. The structures of the polymers were proven by NMR spectroscopy (²⁹Si, ¹³C, ¹H). Results of thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), UV spectrometry and conductivity measurements are given. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enol triflates derived from the Wieland-Miescher ketone and an analog bearing an angular acetoxymethyl group: their highly regioselective synthesis and Stille coupling with vinyl(tributyl)tin

A highly selective synthesis of the enol triflate derived from the 9-keto group was achieved directly from the Wieland-Miescher ketone or an analog in kinetic conditions with LHMDS/THF-HMPA and Comins reagent. The other isomeric triflates were also obtained selectively in other conditions and their specific Stille coupling with vinyl(tributyl)tin was achieved in high yields. The structures of the different isomers were determined unambiguously by IR, UV, ¹H and ¹³C NMR (COSY, HMBC, HSQC, and NOE). The results previously reported by Pal for the Wieland-Miescher ketone have therefore to be corrected, due to erroneous structural assignments.     

FTIR/ATR study of the copolymerization of diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A with methyl-substituted γ-lactones catalyzed by rare earth triflate initiators

Mixtures of DGEBA with γ-valerolactone (γ-VL) or α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone (γ-MBL) 2:1 (mol/mol) were cationically copolymerized in the presence of scandium, ytterbium, or lanthanum triflates as initiators. The evolution of the different reactive groups was followed by means of FTIR/ATR spectroscopy. From these experiments, we could detect the coexistence of two unexpected processes: a reversion of the intermediate spiroorthoester formed to the initial products and a depolymerization process, which only takes place in samples with γ-VL, when scandium triflate was used as initiator or when the proportion of ytterbium triflate was increased from 1 to 3 phr. When γ-MBL was used as comonomer no depolymerization occurs which supports the proposed mechanism. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2129–2141, 2007     

Diastereoselective and Enantioselective Heck Alkenylation of Cyclopent-3-en-1-ylmethanol with Alkenyl Triflates and Evaluation of Noncovalent Effects

This work describes an effective method to obtain chiral vinyl cyclopentenols with a high degree of enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity through Heck desymmetrization of cyclopent-3-en-1-ylmethanol using vinyl triflates as coupling agents and chiral N,N ligands. This Heck vinylation protocol allowed the synthesis of several structurally complex cyclopentenols in isolated yields of up to 80 % in enantiomeric ratios of up to 97 : 3 and diastereoselectivities higher than 20 : 1 in most cases. Experiments using (E) or (Z) vinyl triflates, and desymmetrization of protected olefin 1-(cyclopent-3-en-1-ylmethoxy)-4-nitrobenzene ( 17) were instrumental in rationalizing the observed diastereoselectivities of Heck products involving the interaction of vinyl triflate carbonyl and the hydroxyl group moiety of the substrate with the cationic Pd(II) complex. The absolute configuration of the vinylated Heck products was determined by Vibrational Circular Dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy.     

Aryl Triflates in On-Surface Chemistry

The reactivity of aryl triflates in on-surface C−C coupling is reported. It is shown that the triflate group in aryl triflates enables regioselective homo coupling with preceding or concomitant hydrodetriflation on Cu(111). Three different symmetrical π-systems with two and three triflate functionalities were used as monomers leading to oligomeric conjugated π-systems. The cascade, comprising different intermediates at different reaction temperatures as observed for one of the molecules, proceeds via initial removal of the trifluoromethyl sulfonyl group to give an aryloxy radical which in turn is deoxygenated to the corresponding aryl radical. Thermodynamically driven regioselective 1,2-hydrogen atom transfer leads to a translocated aryl radical which in turn undergoes coupling. For a sterically more hindered bistriflate, where one ortho position was blocked, dehydrogenative coupling occurred at remote position with good regioselectivity. Starting materials, intermediates as well as products were analyzed by scanning tunneling microscopy. Structures and suggested mechanism were further supported by DFT calculations.     

Syntheses of (1,1-dihydroperfluoroalkyl)aryliodonium triflates and their analogues

(1,l-Dihydroperfluoroalkyl)phenyl- and -$\text{p}$-fluorophenyliodonium triflates $\text{2}$ and $\text{3}$ were synthesized by the reaction of l-bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo-1,l-dihydroperfluoroalkanes $\text{1}$ with triflic acid and benzene or fluorobenzene in 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane. The use of fluorosulfonic acid and sulfuric acid instead of triflic acid afforded (1,l-dihydroperfluoroalkyl) phenyliodonium fluorosulfonate $\text{4}$ and sulfate $\text{5}$, respectively. Similarly, (1,1,ω-trihydroperfluoroalkyl)phenyliodonium triflate $\text{7}$ and 1,1,5,5-tetrahydroperfluoropentane-l,5-bisphenyliodonium triflate $\text{9}$ were synthesized.     

Practical synthetic routes to solvates of U(OTf)3: X-ray crystal structure of [U(OTf)3(MeCN)3]n, a unique U(III) coordination polymer

The reaction of UH3 or U metal with triflic acid results in the formation of a mixture of species including U(OTf)4 and leads to the reproducible isolation of the mononuclear U(IV) hydroxo complex [U(OTf)3(OH)(py)4] (1) and the U(IV) dinuclear mu-oxo-complex [{U(OTf)2(py)3}2{mu-O}{mu-OTf}2] (2). The X-ray crystal structures of these complexes have been determined. Analytically pure complex 1 can be prepared in a 17-27% yield providing a good precursor for the synthesis and study of the reactivity of the hydroxo complexes with different coordination environments. Two practical synthetic methods for the preparation of Lewis base adducts of U(OTf)3 are described. Analytically pure [U(OTf)3(py)4] (4) was easily and reproducibly prepared (50-60% yield) by protonolysis of the amide U{N(SiMe3)2}3 with pyridinium triflate in pyridine. Salt metathesis of UI3(thf)4 with potassium triflate in acetonitrile resulted in the complete substitution of the iodide counterions by triflate producing the acetonitrile solvate [U(OTf)3(MeCN)3]n (3). The solid-state structure of 3 shows the formation of a unique U(III) coordination polymer in which the metal ions are connected by three triflates acting as bidentate bridging ligands to form a 1D chain.     

Iron-catalysed green synthesis of carboxylic esters by the intermolecular addition of carboxylic acids to alkenes

Iron triflate, in situ-formed from FeCl3 and triflic acid, or FeCl3 and silver triflate efficiently catalyse the intermolecular addition of carboxylic acids to various alkenes to yield carboxylic esters; the reaction is applicable to the synthesis of unstable esters, such as acrylates.