Titelbild: Double C?F Bond Activation through β‐Fluorine Elimination: Nickel‐Mediated [3+2] Cycloaddition of 2‐Trifluoromethyl‐1‐alkenes with Alkynes (Angew. Chem. 29/2014)

The nickel‐mediated [3+2] cycloaddition of 2‐trifluoromethyl‐1‐alkenes with alkynes afforded fluorine‐containing multi‐substituted cyclopentadienes in a regioselective manner. This reaction involves the consecutive two C F bond cleavage of a trifluoromethyl or a pentafluoroethyl group through β‐fluorine elimination.     

PhI(OAc)2‐Mediated Radical Trifluoromethylation of Vinyl Azides with Me3SiCF3

The fluorine‐containing organic motif is becoming privileged in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and functional materials, owing to its unique properties such as electron‐withdrawing character, metabolic stability, and lipophilicity. Described herein is the PhI(OAc)₂‐mediated radical trifluoromethylation of vinyl azides with Me₃SiCF₃ to efficiently generate α‐trifluoromethyl azines. The resulting α‐trifluoromethyl azines were successfully transformed to valuable fluorine‐containing molecules such as α‐trifluoromethyl ketones, β‐trifluoromethyl amines, 5‐fluoropyrazoles, and trifluoroethyl isoquinolines.     

Ring Contraction of 3‐Hydroxy‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)piperidines: Synthesis of 2‐Substituted 2‐(Trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidines

A ring contraction of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)piperidines was achieved via an aziridinium intermediate. This contraction facilitates the synthesis of a series of 2‐substituted 2‐(trifluoromethyl)pyrrolidines incorporating a quaternary center at the C2 position.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Ethyl 4‐Alkyl‐2‐(2‐(substituted phenoxy)acetamido)thiazole‐5‐carboxylate

A series of novel ethyl 4‐(methyl or trifluoromethyl)‐2‐(2‐(substituted phenoxy)acetamido)thiazole‐5‐carboxylates 7a , 7b , 7c , 7d , 7e and 8f , 8g , 8h , 8i , 8j , 8k , 8l , 8m , 8n , 8o , 8p , 8q , 8r were synthesized, and their structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H‐NMR, MS spectra and elemental analysis. The results of preliminary bioassays show that some of the title compounds exhibit moderate to good herbicidal activities. Compared with the fluorine free compounds 7a , 7b , and 7e , the compounds bearing fluorine 8g , 8j , and 8q showed higher herbicidal activities with 70–100% inhibition against Capsella bursa‐pastoris, Amaranthus restroflexus, and Eclipta prostrata at the dosage of 150 g/ha, which indicated that the trifluoromethyl on the thiazole ring was beneficial for the herbicidal activity. Furthermore, compounds 8f , 8g , 8h , 8i , 8j , 8k , 8l , 8m , 8n , 8o , 8p , 8q , 8r were tested for fungicidal activity against Pseudoperonospora cubensis at 500 µg/mL. Compounds 8f and 8q showed the best fungicidal activity with more than 80% inhibition.     

Preparation and characterization of fluorine‐containing aromatic condensation polymers. VII. Aromatic polyacetals and copolyacetals from 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropane and/or 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane and 2‐(trifluoromethyl)benzal chloride

A series of fluorine‐containing aromatic homopolyacetals and copolyacetals with a wide range of unit ratios were synthesized by the solution polycondensation of 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropane (bisphenol AF), 2,2‐bis(4‐hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A), or both with 2‐(trifluoromethyl)benzal chloride, and the effect of fluorine substitution on the properties of these polymers is discussed in relation to the fluorine contents. High molecular weight polyacetals with reduced viscosities of 0.43–0.97 dL/g were obtained in high yields with potassium hydroxide as a base, 18‐crown 6‐ether as a catalyst, and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone as a medium at 100 °C for 3 h. Regardless of the fluorine contents, these polymers all were highly soluble in various solvents, including benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and tetrahydrofuran, and afforded colorless, transparent, and tough films by solution casting. The temperatures of 5% weight loss and 10% weight loss under nitrogen both increased significantly and monotonously with increasing fluorine content, whereas the glass‐transition temperatures were scarcely affected by fluorine substitution. The dielectric constant at 1 MHz of the bisphenol AF‐based homopolyacetal was 2.43, which was remarkably lower than the value of the bisphenol A‐based homopolyacetal, 2.68. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 1873–1879, 2000     

Condensation of methylhydrazine with 4‐ethoxy‐1,1,1‐trifluoro‐3‐buten‐2‐one. A reinvestigation

In contrast to previous reports, 4‐ethoxy‐1,1,1‐trifluoro‐3‐buten‐2‐one ( 1 ) was observed to react with methylhydrazine ( 2 ) in refluxing ethanol to yield 1‐methyl‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole ( 6 ) and 4,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)pyrazol‐5‐ol ( 4 ). The later compound undergoes acid catalyzed dehydration to 1‐methyl‐5‐(trifluoromethyl)pyrazole ( 3 ).     

Unusual behaviour of N‐cinnamoyl‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐(trifluoromethyl)‐arylethylamines in pictet‐gams cyclization. Synthesis of 2‐styryl‐5‐aryl‐5‐trifluoromethyl‐2‐oxazolines

Cyclization of N‐acyl‐2‐hydroxy‐2‐(trifluoromethyl)arylethylamines 4 under Pictet‐Gams conditions afforded 2‐oxazolines 5 instead of the expected isoquinolines 6 . The effect of the trifluoromethyl group on the result of the reaction is discussed.     

Luminescent copoly(aryl ether)s with new electron‐transporting bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole or bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)‐4‐(4‐hexyloxyphenyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole segments

To investigate the effect of trifluoromethyl groups in enhancing electron affinity of aromatic oxadiazole and triazole chromophores, we prepared four new copoly(aryl ether)s ( P1 – P4 ) consisting of bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (ETO) or bis(3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)‐4‐(4‐hexyloxyphenyl)‐4H‐1,2,4‐triazole (ETT) segments and hole‐transporting segments [2,5‐distyrylbenzene (HTB) or bis(styryl)fluorine (HTF)]. Molecular spectra (absorption and photoluminescence) and cyclic voltammetry were used to investigate their optical and electrochemical properties. The emissions of P1 – P4 are dominated by the hole‐transporting fluorophores with longer emissive wavelengths around 442–453 nm via efficient excitation energy transfer. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels of P1 – P4 , estimated from electrochemical data, are ?5.15, ?5.18, ?5.30, ?5.27, ?3.39, ?3.49, ?3.36, and ?3.48 eV, respectively. The LUMO levels of ETO and ETT segments are significantly reduced to ?3.39～?3.36 eV and ?3.48～?3.49 eV, respectively, as compared with ?2.45 eV of P5 containing a 2,5‐diphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole segment. Moreover, electron and hole affinity can be enhanced simultaneously by introducing isolated hole‐ and electron‐transporting segments in the backbone. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5900–5910, 2004     

Synthesis of 5,6‐dihydro‐2‐trifluoromethyl‐1,4‐dioxin‐3‐carboxanilides through polymer‐bound activated ester: Construction of dihydro‐1,4‐dioxin

A new construction of dihydro‐1,4‐dioxin and a synthesis of 5,6‐dihydro‐2‐trifluoromethyl‐1,4‐dioxin‐3‐carboxanilides 22 through polymer‐bound activated ester are described. An intermediate β‐hydroxy ether 18 was prepared from the substitution reaction of α‐thio‐α‐chloro compound 8 with ethylene glycol followed by treatment with Raney Ni. Replacement of hydroxy by chlorine and then dehydrochlorination afforded trifluoromethyl dihydro‐1,4‐dioxin ester 15. The polymer‐bound trifluoromethyl dihydro‐1,4‐dioxin‐3‐carboxylic acid, 4‐hydroxy‐3‐nitrobenzophenone ester ( 21 ) was prepared through the reaction of polystyrene‐bound 4‐hydroxy‐3‐nitrobenzophenone ( 19 ) with the trifluoromethyl dihydro‐1,4‐dioxin‐3‐carbonyl chloride ( 20 ). Refluxing of 21 with substituted aniline in acetonitrile gave the corresponding carboxanilide 22. The reaction rate depended on the nucleophilicity of nitrogen of the aniline.     

Oxazolidine Formation,or Loss of Acid,from Attempted Fluorination of Amide Side‐Chain in 2‐Nitroimidazoles

Reaction of Etanidazole (a 2‐nitroimidazole derivative with an amide side‐chain containing a hydroxyethyl group) with triflic anhydride gives, depending on conditions, a trifluoromethyl(sulfonyl)oxazolidine via a cyclization reaction, or a fluorine‐free formate derivative; reaction with tosyl chloride gives only a chloroethyl derivative. An attempt to replace a Br‐atom in a related propyl‐containing amide side‐chain by a F‐atom forms instead a propylene derivative via loss of HBr. The studies stem from interest in use of 2‐nitroimidazoles with fluorine‐containing amide side‐chains as hypoxia markers.     

Synthesis of Three‐, Five‐, and Six‐Membered Heterocycles Derived from New β‐Amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) Alcohols

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of α‐imino ketones 2 , derived from arylglyoxal, with Ruppert–Prakash reagent (CF₃SiMe₃) offers a convenient access to the corresponding O‐silylated β‐imino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols. In a ‘one‐pot’ procedure, by treatment with NaBH₄, these products smoothly undergo reduction and desilylation yielding the expected β‐amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols 4 . The latter were used as starting materials for the synthesis of diverse trifluoromethylated heterocycles, including aziridines 5 , 1,3‐oxazolidines 8 , 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐ones 9 , 1,3,2‐oxazaphospholidine 2‐oxides 10 , 1,2,3‐oxathiazolidine 2‐oxides 11 , and morpholine‐2,3‐diones 12 . An optically active 5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐substituted 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one 9g was also obtained.     

Synthesis and characterization of soluble fluorine‐containing polyimides based on 1,4‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzene

The synthesis and properties of a class of soluble fluorine‐containing aromatic polyimides are described. Substituents of trifluoromethyl groups on the aromatic rings of paralinked aromatic ether diamine conferred the polymer prepared thereof with enhanced solubility, low‐moisture absorption, and low dielectric constants. The polyimides also exhibited exceptional thermal stability, good mechanical properties, and excellent hygrothermal resistance. These outstanding combined features ensure the polymers are desirable candidate materials for advanced microelectronics applications. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2581–2590, 2001     

Synthesis of Fluorine‐Containing Multisubstituted Phenanthridines by Rhodium‐Catalyzed Alkyne [2+2+2] Cycloaddition and Tandem sp2 C?H Difluoromethylenation

A highly efficient method for the synthesis of fluorine‐containing multisubstituted phenanthridines through Rh‐catalyzed alkyne [2+2+2] cycloaddition reactions has been developed. This method exhibits excellent functional‐group compatibility. When a bromodifluoromethyl group, rather than a trifluoromethyl group, was employed in the cycloaddition reaction, more‐complicated polycyclic compounds were obtained through tandem Rh‐catalyzed cycloaddition/C? H difluoromethylenation. This route provides convenient access to fluorine‐containing polycyclic compounds.     

TiO2‐Nanoparticles Catalyzed Synthesis of New Trifluoromethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles and Trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles

Synthesis of a new series of trifluoromethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles and trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles have been described by utilizing the reactions between amidoximes and trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides. Trifluoromethyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles have been synthesized under mild conditions such as Na₂CO₃, THF‐H₂O, and titanium dioxide nanoparticles as catalyst in good to excellent yields. Also, trifluoromethyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazoles have been synthesized directly from reaction of amidoximes and trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides in a one‐pot manner in present of NaH, THF, and titanium dioxide nanoparticle as catalyst.     

A scalable Nenitzescu synthesis of 2‐methyl‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐indole‐5‐carbonitrile

2‐Methyl‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐indole‐5‐carbonitrile is a key intermediate in the synthesis of selective androgen receptor modulators discovered in these laboratories. A practical and convergent synthesis of the title compound starting from 4‐nitro‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenol and tert‐butyl acetoacetate was developed, including a telescoped procedure for synthesis (without isolation) and Nenitzescu reaction of 2‐trifluoromethyl‐1,4‐benzoquinone. Conversion of the known Nenitzescu indole product to a novel triflate intermediate followed by palladium‐catalyzed cyanation afforded a penultimate carbonitrile. Removal of the C‐3 tert‐butyl ester group on the indole through a decarboxylative pathway completed the synthesis of the title compound in six steps (27% overall yield) from 4‐nitro‐3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenol (five steps, 37% overall yield from tert‐butyl acetoacetate). J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).     

Copper‐Catalysed Decarboxylative Trifluoromethylation of β‐Ketoacids

An efficient method for Cu‐catalyzed decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of β ‐ketoacids to achieve α ‐trifluoromethyl ketones was developed. A wide variety of synthetically useful α ‐trifluoromethyl ketones were obtained in modest to good yields under mild reaction conditions. The present method also exhibits good functional‐group compatibility.     

Synthesis and characterization of new trifluoromethyl substituted 3‐ethoxycarbonyl‐ and 3‐pyrimidin‐2‐yl)‐(1,2,3)‐oxathiazinane‐S‐oxides

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a new series of 4‐substituted‐3‐ethoxycarbonyl‐6‐trifluoromethyl‐(1,2,3)‐oxathiazinane‐S‐oxides and 3‐(4,6‐diphenyl‐pyrimidin‐2‐yl)‐6‐trifluoromethyl‐(1,2,3)oxathiazinane‐S‐oxides from the cyclization reaction of 4,4,4‐trifluoro‐3‐hydroxybutylcarbamates and 4‐(4,6‐diphenyl‐pyrimidin‐2‐ylamino)‐1,1,1‐trifluoro‐butan‐2‐ols with thionyl chloride. The analysis of the NMR data allowed us to define important features of the molecular structure. Significant chemical and structural differences were observed between the trifluoromethylated oxathiazinanes obtained in this work from other analogue compounds reported in the literature.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel polyimide from bis‐(3‐aminophenyl)‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl phosphine oxide

A novel diamine, bis‐(3‐aminophenyl)‐4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl phosphine oxide (mDA3FPPO), containing phosphine oxide and fluorine moieties was prepared via the Grignard reaction from an intermediate, 4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl diphenyl phosphine oxide, that was synthesized from diphenylphosphinic chloride and 4‐(trifluoromethyl)bromobenzene, followed by nitration and reduction. The monomer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H NMR, ³¹P NMR, ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopies; elemental analysis; melting point measurements; and titration and was used to prepare polyimides with a number of dianhydrides such as pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), 5,5′‐[2,2,2‐trifluoro‐1‐(trifluoromethyl)ethyliden]‐bis‐1,3‐isobenzofuranedione (6FDA), 3,3′,4,4′‐benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), and 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic dianhydride (ODPA). Polyimides were synthesized via a conventional two‐step route; preparation of polyamic acids, followed by solution imidization, and the molecular weight were controlled to 20,000 g/mol. Resulting polyimides were characterized by FTIR, NMR, DSC, and intrinsic viscosity measurements. Refractive‐index, dielectric constant, and adhesive properties were also determined. The properties of polyimides were compared with those of polyimides prepared from 1,1‐bis‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐1‐phenyl‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane (3FDAm) and bis‐(3‐aminophenyl) phenyl phosphine oxide (mDAPPO). The polyimides prepared from mDA3FPPO provided high glass‐transition temperatures (248–311 °C), good thermal stability, excellent solubility, low birefringence (0.0030–0.0036), low dielectric constants (2.9–3.1), and excellent adhesive properties with Cu foils (107 g/mm). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 3335–3347, 2001     

Synthesis and Herbicidal Activity of 2‐Alkyl(aryl)‐4‐amino‐3‐[alkyl(alkoxy)carbonyl]‐5‐cyano‐6‐[(3‐trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]‐pyridines

To find novel bleaching herbicide lead compounds, a series of novel 2‐alkyl(aryl)‐4‐amino‐3‐[alkyl(alkoxy)carbonyl]‐5‐cyano‐6‐[(3‐trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]‐pyridines was designed and synthesized by the multistep reactions. N,S‐acetal 1 reacted with 2 to obtain multisubstituted pyridines 3 in the presence of zinc nitrate as the catalyst. The target compounds 5a , 5b , 5c , 5d , 5e , 5f , 5g , 5h , 5i , 5j , 5k , 5l were formed by the oxidation of 3 , followed by the substitution with 3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenol in the presence of potassium carbonate. Their structures were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, EI‐MS, and elemental analyses. The preliminary bioassays indicated that some of them displayed moderate herbicidal activity against dicotyledonous weed Brassica campestris L at the concentration of 100 mg/L.     

Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Intermolecular [3+2] Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with β‐Trifluoromethyl β,β‐Disubstituted Enones

Reported herein is an asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides with β‐trifluoromethyl β,β‐disubstituted enones, a reaction which is enabled by a Ming‐Phos‐derived copper(I) catalyst (Ming‐Phos=chiral sulfinamide monophosphines, Figure 2 ). This method provides scalable and efficient access to the highly substituted pyrrolidines with a trifluoromethylated, all‐carbon quaternary stereocenter in good yields with up to greater than 20:1 d.r. and 98 % ee. The reaction has a broad substrate scope and tolerates a wide range of functional groups.