gem‐Difluoroolefination of Diaryl Ketones and Enolizable Aldehydes with Difluoromethyl 2‐Pyridyl Sulfone: New Insights into the Julia–Kocienski Reaction

The direct conversion of diaryl ketones and enolizable aliphatic aldehydes into gem‐difluoroalkenes has been a long‐standing challenge in organofluorine chemistry. Herein, we report efficient strategies to tackle this problem by using difluoromethyl 2‐pyridyl sulfone as a general gem‐difluoroolefination reagent. The gem‐difluoroolefination of diaryl ketones proceeds by acid‐promoted Smiles rearrangement of the carbinol intermediate; the gem‐difluoroolefination is otherwise difficult to achieve through a conventional Julia–Kocienski olefination protocol under basic conditions due to the retro‐aldol type decomposition of the key intermediate. Efficient gem‐difluoroolefination of aliphatic aldehydes was achieved by the use of an amide base generated in situ (from CsF and tris(trimethylsilyl)amine), which diminishes the undesired enolization of aliphatic aldehydes and provides a powerful synthetic method for chemoselective gem‐difluoroolefination of multi‐carbonyl compounds. Our results provide new insights into the mechanistic understanding of the classical Julia–Kocienski reaction.     

Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation of gem-Difluorocyclopropenyl Esters: Access to Enantioenriched gem-Difluorocyclopropanes

Catalytic enantioselective access to disubstituted functionalized gem-difluorocyclopropanes, which are emerging fluorinated motifs of interest in medicinal chemistry, was achieved through asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of gem-difluorocyclopropenyl esters, catalyzed by a Noyori–Ikariya (p-cymene)-ruthenium(II) complex, with (N-tosyl-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine) as the chiral ligand and isopropanol as the hydrogen donor. The resulting cis-gem-difluorocyclopropyl esters were obtained with moderate to high enantioselectivity (ee=66–99 %), and post-functionalization reactions enable access to valuable building blocks incorporating a cis- or trans-gem-difluorocyclopropyl motif.     

Direct gem-Difluoroalkenylation of X−H Bonds with Trifluoromethyl Ketone N-Triftosylhydrazones for Synthesis of Tetrasubstituted Heteroatomic gem-Difluoroalkenes

The direct gem-difluoroalkenylation of X−H bonds represents the most straightforward approach to access heteroatomic gem-difluoroalkenes that, as the isostere of the carbonyl group, have great potency in drug discovery. However, the construction of tetrasubstituted heteroatomic gem-difluoroalkenes by this strategy is still an unsolved problem. Here, we report the first direct X−H bond gem-difluoroalkenylation of amines and alcohols with trifluoromethyl ketone N-triftosylhydrazones under silver (for (hetero)aryl hydrazones) or rhodium (for alkyl hydrazones), thereby providing a most powerful method for the synthesis of tetrasubstituted heteroatomic gem-difluoroalkenes. This method features a broad substrate scope, high product yield, excellent functional group tolerance, and operational simplicity (open air conditions). Moreover, the site-specific replacement of the carbonyl group with a gem-difluorovinyl ether bioisostere in drug Trimebutine and the post-modification of bioactive molecules demonstrates potential use in medicinal research. Finally, the reaction mechanism was investigated by combining experiments and DFT calculations, and disclosed that the key step of HF elimination occurred via five-membered ring transition state, and the difference in the electrophilicity of Ag- and Rh-carbenes as well as the multiple intermolecular interactions rendered the effectiveness of Rh catalyst selectively for alkyl hydrazones.     

Molecular structure and thermal stability of α-halogen-<Emphasis Type="Italic">gem</Emphasis>-dithiols

The electronic structure of α-halogen-gem-dithiols RC(SH)₂CH₂X (R = Me, Ph; X = F, Cl, Br, I) was studied by quantum chemistry methods. Four most stable rotamers were located, differing in the mutual orientation of the thiol groups and the halogen atom. The thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of the thermolysis of α-halogen-gem-dithiols were obtained. Thermolysis of chlorine- and bromine-substituted gem-dithiols depends on the properties of the medium, namely, in aprotic media aromatic dithiols form trithianorbornane derivatives while aliphatic dithiols form thiirane derivatives. In an aqueous medium (R = Me, Ph), water promoted elimination of hydrogen sulfide with the formation of corresponding thiones is more preferable. Thermolysis of aliphatic iodine-substituted gem-dithiols proceeds as bimolecular deiodination resulting in the formation of a new C-C bond.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 559–568, March, 2005.     

Iodine(III)-Mediated Migratory gem-Difluorinations: Synthesis of β Transformable Functionality Substituted gem-Difluoroalkanes

Geminal-difluoroalkanes featuring intriguing steric and electronic properties are of great significance in medicinal chemistry, and great progresses have been achieved for their synthesis. In recent years, iodine(III) reagent-mediated migratory gem-difluorination of alkenes has proved to be an efficient and powerful strategy to access to diverse gem-difluoroalkanes, especially those bearing a readily transformable functionality (TF), which are important for rapid assembly of complex gem-difluorinated molecules in a modular and diverse manner. In this review, we systematically summarize the recent development of iodine(III)-mediated migratory gem-difluorination reactions for the synthesis of gem-difluoroalkanes bearing a synthetically versatile TF at the β position. The reaction mechanism and the utilities of the products are also discussed. This review is presented and grouped basically according to the types of transformable functionalities within the products.     

Development of small focused libraries of supported amino alcohols as an efficient strategy for the optimization of enantioselective heterogeneous catalysts for the ZnEt2 addition to benzaldehyde

A general methodology has been evaluated for the preparation and optimization and fine-tuning of polymer-supported chiral catalysts for the ZnEt₂ addition to benzaldehyde. This approach involves the use of parallel solid-phase chemistry and the use of cheap and easily available chiral starting materials, such as amino acids. In this way, small, focused polymer-supported libraries of α,α-substituted amino alcohols have been prepared and evaluated as chiral ligands for the above-mentioned catalytic reaction. This strategy allows for an easy and fast way to analyze the different factors affecting the efficiency of the supported species (including the polymeric network itself) and to improve the tuning of the chiral catalysts. For the cases studied, amino alcohols containing aliphatic α-substituents have been shown to give good results when in conjunction with both aliphatic side chains at the β position and a N-methyl substituent.     

gem-Heteroatom-Substituted Fluoroalkenes as Mimics of Amide Derivatives or Phosphates: A Comprehensive Review

gem-Heteroatom-substituted fluoroalkenes have received little attention despite their great potential in medicinal chemistry or in fine chemistry. Indeed, due to the electronic and steric similarity between the fluoroalkene moiety and the amide bond as well as the high strength of the carbon-fluorine bond, these gem-heteroatom-substituted fluoroalkenes could be envisioned as stable mimics of various important organic functions, such as phosphates, carbamates, S-thiocarbamates and ureas. We present herein an overview describing the syntheses over the last decade of heteroatom-substituted fluoroalkenes in geminal position. This review will be divided into several sections covering each the common following heteroatom: oxygen-, nitrogen-, sulfur-, phosphorus-, boron- and silicon-substituted fluoroalkenes.     

金属参与的N-酰基腙的偕二氟烯丙基化反应：高效合成偕二氟高烯丙基胺

金属铟参与醛衍生的N-酰基腙 1a-1q,4a-4g与3-溴-3,3-二氟丙烯 2 的反应,分别高效得到α, α-二氟高烯丙基肼 3a-3q,5a-5g。该反应条件温和,操作简便。硝基,酚羟基,苄氧基,α, β-不饱和醛的碳-碳双键等官能团对该反应具有良好的官能团兼容性。通过用锌粉代替铟粉, 酮衍生的N-酰基腙 6a-6d 也能发生偕二氟烯丙基化反应,以中等产率得到α, α-二氟高烯丙基肼 7a-7d。裂解肼3a的 N-N键顺利得到偕二氟高烯丙基胺 8,化合物 8 经丙烯酰化,随后进行RCM关环反应,可以方便的转化为偕二氟-γ-取代α, β-不饱和内酰胺 11。     

Generation of α-Boryl Radicals and Their Conjugate Addition to Enones: Transition-Metal-Free Alkylation of gem-Diborylalkanes

A transition-metal-free method for the alkylation of gem-diborylalkanes with α,β-unsaturated ketones has been developed. It is demonstrated that the α-boryl radicals can be generated efficiently from gem-diborylalkanes with the aid of catechol and oxidants. The α-boryl radicals formed through such process can be engaged in conjugate addition reaction with α,β-unsaturated ketones. This transformation is a straightforward method for the synthesis of γ-borylketones.     

Deuteriodifluoromethylation and gem-Difluoroalkenylation of Aldehydes Using ClCF2H in Continuous Flow

The deuteriodifluoromethyl group (CF₂D) represents a challenging functional group due to difficult deuterium incorporation and unavailability of precursor reagents. Herein, we report the use of chlorodifluoromethane (ClCF₂H) gas in the continuous flow deuteriodifluoromethylation and gem-difluoroalkenylation of aldehydes. Mechanistic studies revealed that the difluorinated oxaphosphetane (OPA) intermediate can proceed via alkaline hydrolysis in the presence of D₂O to provide α-deuteriodifluoromethylated benzyl alcohols or undergo a retro [2+2] cycloaddition under thermal conditions to provide the gem-difluoroalkenylated product.     

A Stereodivergent Approach to the Synthesis of gem-Diborylcyclopropanes

We report a designed stereodivergent strategy for the synthesis of gem-diborylcyclopropanes. The reaction provides a highly modular approach to prepare cyclopropane ring variants bearing gem-(Bpin,Bpin), gem-(Bpin,Bdan), and gem-(Bpin,BF₃K), with outstanding levels of stereocontrol. This was achieved by diastereoselective Pd-catalyzed cyclopropanation reactions of gem-diborylalkenes with α-diazoarylacetates and α-diazoaryl-trifluoromethyl. The key to the success of this general protocol was the diastereoselective trifluorination reaction of gem-diborylcyclopropanes, followed by the stereospecific interconversion of the trifluoroborate salts into the Bdan group.     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols with a readily available ruthenium-based racemization catalyst

An easy to handle and stable racemization catalyst for secondary alcohols is obtained by an in situ mixture of readily available [Ru(cymene)Cl₂]₂ with chelating aliphatic diamines. Optimization of the reaction revealed that N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine as ligand racemizes aromatic alcohols completely within 5 h. This easy to handle and stable catalytic system is combined with a lipase-catalyzed resolution to provide an efficient dynamic kinetic resolution of secondary alcohols.     

Sterically Hindered and Deconjugative α-Regioselective Asymmetric Mannich Reaction of Meinwald Rearrangement-Intermediate

Compared to γ-addition, the α-addition of α-branched β,γ-unsaturated aldehydes faces larger steric hindrance and disrupts the π–π conjugation, which might be why very few examples are reported. In this article, a highly diastereo- and enantioselective α-regioselective Mannich reaction of isatin-derived ketimines with α-, β- or γ-branched β,γ-unsaturated aldehydes, generated in situ from Meinwald rearrangement of vinyl epoxides, is realized by using chiral N,N′-dioxide/Sc^III catalysts. A series of chiral α-quaternary allyl aldehydes and homoallylic alcohols with vicinal multisubstituted stereocenters are constructed in excellent yields, good d.r. and excellent ee values. Experimental studies and DFT (density functional theory) calculations reveal that the large steric hindrance of the ligand and the Boc (tButyloxy carbonyl) protecting group of imines are critical factors for the α-regioselectivity.     

Cu-Catalyzed Reductive gem-Difunctionalization of Terminal Alkynes via Hydrosilylation/Hydroamination Cascade: Concise Synthesis of α-Aminosilanes

A copper-catalyzed reductive gem-difunctionalization of terminal alkynes with hydrosilanes and hydroxylamines has been developed. The reaction proceeds via hydrosilylation/hydroamination cascade, and the readily available and simple terminal alkynes can be transformed into the corresponding α-aminosilanes of medicinal interest in a single operation. Additionally, the use of chiral bisphosphine ligand successfully makes the reaction enantioselective to deliver the optically active α-aminosilanes with good enantiomeric ratios.     

Halogen Bonding of N-Halosuccinimides with Amines and Effects of Brønsted Acids in Quinuclidine-Catalyzed Halocyclizations

An arguable expectation in halogen chemistry is that an amine will react oxidatively with an N-halosuccinimide (NXS) to form an N-halogenated species bearing a covalent N−X bond. While likely for NCS under most conditions, we find this expectation simply not true for NIS and largely inaccurate for NBS. Herein, we disclose evidence through systematic NMR and X-ray studies that non-covalent halogen bonded amine complexes of NIS predominate over covalent N-halogenated species, even with primary and secondary amines. For example, during the catalytic electrophilic halocyclization of gem-disubstituted alkenes by cinchona-like amines, the quinuclidine complexes of NIS and NBS display lower reactivity than their parent N-halosuccinamides and require the presence of an appropriate Brønsted acid. Specifically, a Brønsted acid and quinuclidine jointly catalyze the halo-cycloetherification of γ-alkenyl alcohols with NIS or NBS, while only quinuclidine acts as a catalyst in the halolactonization of γ-alkenoic acids. Although our evidence confirms a transient N-halogenated quaternary ammonium salt as the halonium species, it is important to note that NIS predominantly forms ‘off-cycle’ halogen bonded amine complexes in solution.     

Synthesis of Acyclic Aliphatic Amides with Contiguous Stereogenic Centers via Palladium-Catalyzed Enantio-, Chemo- and Diastereoselective Methylene C(sp3)−H arylation

The enantioselective desymmetrizing C−H activation of α-gem-dialkyl acyclic amides remains challenging because the availability of four chemically identical unbiased methylene C(sp³)−H bonds and increased rotational freedoms of the acyclic systems add tremendous difficulties for chemo- and stereocontrol. We have developed a method for the synthesis of acyclic aliphatic amides with α,β-contiguous stereogenic centers via Pd^II-catalyzed asymmetric arylation of unbiased methylene C(sp³)−H, in good yields and with high levels of enantio-, chemo- and diastereoselectivity (up to >99 % ee and >20:1 d.r.). Successive application of this method enables the sequential arylation of the gem-dialkyl groups with two different aryl iodides, giving a range of β-Ar¹-β′-Ar²-aliphatic acyclic amides containing three contiguous stereogenic centers with excellent diastereoselectivity.     

Synthesis of nitrogen-containing heterocycles. 4. A facile route to new 1, 2, 4-triazole derivatives

The reaction of amino-N(4),N(4)-dimethylaminornethylenehydrazones 1 of some aliphatic carbonyl compounds with ethyl ethoxymethylenecyanoacetate 2 gave directly symmetrical gem-bis(3-dimethylamino-1, 2, 4-triazol-1-yl)alkanes 4 and (3-dimethylamino-1, 2, 4-triazol-1-yl)alkenes 5 at room temperature, with the former being major product. On the other hand, the reaction of amino- N (4)-methylaminomethylenehydrazone homologue 1 of aliphatic ketone with 2 gave ethyl 2-alkyl-5-methylamino[1, 2, 4]triazolo[1, 5-c]pyrimidine-8-carboxylate 7 as the only product with elimination of alkane.     

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Axially Chiral N,N′-Bisindoles

This study establishes the first organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral N,N′-bisindoles via chiral phosphoric acid-catalyzed formal (3+2) cycloadditions of indole-based enaminones as novel platform molecules with 2,3-diketoesters, where de novo indole-ring formation is involved. Using this new strategy, various axially chiral N,N′-bisindoles were synthesized in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 87 % yield and 96 % ee). More importantly, this class of axially chiral N,N′-bisindoles exhibited some degree of cytotoxicity toward cancer cells and was derived into axially chiral phosphine ligands with high catalytic activity. This study provides a new strategy for enantioselective synthesis of axially chiral N,N′-bisindoles using asymmetric organocatalysis and is the first to realize the applications of such scaffolds in medicinal chemistry and asymmetric catalysis.     

ELECTROPHILIC CLEAVAGE OF SULFENATE ESTERS. I. POSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Base-assisted electrophilic cleavage of sulfenate esters was studied with reference to possible biological models. It is suggested that sulfenate esters (RSOR') may serve as intermediates in oxidations involving alcohol dehydrogenases. Models for the biological oxidation of alcohols via sulfenate ester intermediates are presented. The lipoic acid catalyzed dehydrogenation step in the actions of α-ketoacid oxidases (e.g., pyruvic acid dehydrogenase and α-keto glutarate dehydrogenase) is also explained in terms of a possible sulfenate ester intermediate.

In the interaction of alcohols and amines, with membrane proteins, the possibility of reversible formation of sulfenate esters and of sulfenamide formation is suggested. Experimental support is given for the formation of carbonyl compounds, from alcohols via sulfenate esters and subsequent electrophilic attack by N-iodosuccinimide on the esters. Such reactions of sulfenyl esters open virtually unexplored areas of chemistry and of the related biological implications. Methyl fluorosulfate (‘magic methyl’) in presence of base is also effective for the cleavage reaction.