Synthesis and Properties of CF3(OCF3)CH‐Substituted Arenes and Alkenes†

A silver‐mediated oxidative trifluoromethylation of easily accessible α‐trifluoromethyl alcohols with TMSCF₃ was developed to access novel CF₃(OCF₃)CH‐containing compounds. Deprotonation of CF₃(OCF₃)CH‐substituted arenes afforded synthetically useful CF₃O‐substituted gem‐difluoroalkenes. Furthermore, evaluation of the lipophilicities (log P) indicated that CH(OCF₃)CF₃ is more lipophilic than the common fluorinated motifs such as CF₃, OCF₃, and SCF₃, thus rendering the CH(OCF₃)CF₃ motif appealing in drug discovery.     

A Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Enantioselective γ‐Boryl Substitution of Trifluoromethyl‐Substituted Alkenes: Synthesis of Enantioenriched γ,γ‐gem‐Difluoroallylboronates

The first catalytic enantioselective γ‐boryl substitution of CF₃‐substituted alkenes is reported. A series of CF₃‐substituted alkenes was treated with a diboron reagent in the presence of a copper(I)/Josiphos catalyst to afford the corresponding optically active γ,γ‐gem‐difluoroallylboronates in high enantioselectivity. The thus obtained products could be readily converted into the corresponding difluoromethylene‐containing homoallylic alcohols using highly stereospecific allylation reactions.     

Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity of new aminomethyldiphosphine–Pd(II) complexes for Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction

A new range of CF₃‐substituted aminomethyldiphosphine (P―C―N) ligands ((C₆H₅)₂PCH₂)₂NR (R = ―C₆H₄(2‐CF₃) ( 1 ), ―C₆H₄(3‐CF₃) ( 1b ) has been synthesized from 2‐(trifluoromethyl)aniline and 3‐(trifluoromethyl)aniline with diphenylphosphine. The aminomethyldiphosphine ligands were reacted with Pd(cod)Cl₂ to give corresponding metal complexes, PdLCl₂ ( 2a , 2b ). The aminomethyldiphosphine–palladium compounds were characterized by utilizing several methods including NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P) and elemental analysis. These compounds were used as catalysts in Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction of aryl chlorides and bromides. The effect of base was also investigated in this current project. CF₃‐substituted aminomethyldiphosphine–palladium complexes were found to be efficient catalysts in Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction of activated and deactivated aryl boronic acids. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pd/Cu‐Catalyzed Enantioselective Sequential Heck/Sonogashira Coupling: Asymmetric Synthesis of Oxindoles Containing Trifluoromethylated Quaternary Stereogenic Centers

An asymmetric palladium and copper co‐catalyzed Heck/Sonogashira reaction between o‐iodoacrylanilides and terminal alkynes to synthesize chiral oxindoles was developed. In particular, a wide range of CF₃‐substituted o‐iodoacrylanilides reacted with terminal alkynes, affording the corresponding chiral oxindoles containing trifluoromethylated quaternary stereogenic centers in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (94–98 % ee). This asymmetric Heck/Sonogashira reaction provides a general approach to access oxindole derivatives containing quaternary stereogenic centers including CF₃‐substituted ones.     

Superacid‐Promoted Cyclodehydration Leading to the Imidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinoline Ring System

A series of heterocycle‐substituted acetophenones were prepared and reacted with the Brønsted superacid CF₃SO₃H (triflic acid=trifluoromethanesulfonic acid). Cyclodehydration provided aryl‐substituted imidazo[2,1‐a]isoquinolines and related products (28–85%, seven examples). A mechanism is proposed involving dicationic intermediates.     

Stereoarrayed CF3‐Substituted 1,3‐Diols by Dynamic Kinetic Resolution: Ruthenium(II)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation

CF₃‐substituted 1,3‐diols were stereoselectively prepared in excellent enantiopurity and high yield from CF₃‐substituted diketones by using an ansa‐ruthenium(II)‐catalyzed asymmetric transfer hydrogenation in formic acid/triethylamine. The intermediate mono‐reduced alcohol was also obtained in very high enantiopurity by applying milder reaction conditions. In particular, CF₃C(O)‐substituted benzofused cyclic ketones underwent either a single or a double dynamic kinetic resolution during their reduction.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cascade CH Trifluoroethylation of Aryl Iodides and Heck Reaction: Efficient Synthesis of ortho‐Trifluoroethylstyrenes

A palladium‐catalyzed selective C? H bond trifluoroethylation of aryl iodides has been explored. The reaction allows for the efficient synthesis of a variety of ortho‐trifluoroethyl‐substituted styrenes. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction might involve a key Pd^IV intermediate, which is generated through the rate‐determining oxidative addition of CF₃CH₂I to a palladacycle; the bulky nature of CF₃CH₂I influences the reactivity. Reductive elimination from the Pd^IV complex then leads to the formation of the aryl–CH₂CF₃ bond.     

Synthesis of Asymmetrically Substituted Terpyridines by Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct C?H Arylation of Pyridine N‐Oxides

The synthesis of asymmetrically substituted 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridines is reported. First, palladium‐catalyzed C? H arylation of pyridine N‐oxides with substituted bromopyridines gave 2,2′‐bipyridine N‐oxides, which were further arylated in a second step to form 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine N‐oxides. Yields of up to 77 % were obtained with N‐oxides bearing an electron‐withdrawing ethoxycarbonyl substituent in the 4‐position. Pd(OAc)₂ with either P(tBu)₃ or P(o‐tolyl)₃ was used as the catalyst. Cyclometalated complexes derived from Pd(OAc)₂ and these phosphines were also effective. K₃PO₄ as the base gave better results than K₂CO₃. Subsequent deoxygenation with H₂ and Pd/C as the catalyst gave the asymmetrically substituted 2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridines in near quantitative yield. This reaction sequence significantly reduces the number of steps required in comparison with known cross‐coupling methods and therefore allows convenient and scalable access to substituted terpyridines.     

Positional disorder manifested as compositional in a pseudo‐C2‐symmetrical Pd complex

The title compound {2‐[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐ylmethyl]‐6‐(3,5‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐1‐ylmethyl)pyridine}methylpalladium(II) tetrakis[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate, [Pd(C₁₈H₁₈F₆N₅)][B(C₈H₃F₆)₄], crystallizes as discrete cations and anions. The cation possesses a pseudo‐twofold axis about which positional disorder of the tridentate ligand is exhibited. The four substituents on the two pyrazole rings exhibit CH₃/CF₃ disorder, while all other atoms are ordered. Thus, this disorder can be conveniently described `locally' as compositional, while `globally' for the entire tridentate ligand it is positional. The anion also exhibits typical rotational positional disorder in three of the CF₃ groups. All disordered CF₃ groups were modeled with idealized C_3v geometry.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Cascade C?H Trifluoroethylation of Aryl Iodides and Heck Reaction: Efficient Synthesis of ortho‐Trifluoroethylstyrenes

A palladium‐catalyzed selective C H bond trifluoroethylation of aryl iodides has been explored. The reaction allows for the efficient synthesis of a variety of ortho‐trifluoroethyl‐substituted styrenes. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction might involve a key Pd^IV intermediate, which is generated through the rate‐determining oxidative addition of CF₃CH₂I to a palladacycle; the bulky nature of CF₃CH₂I influences the reactivity. Reductive elimination from the Pd^IV complex then leads to the formation of the aryl–CH₂CF₃ bond.     

Oxydifluoromethylation of Alkenes by Photoredox Catalysis: Simple Synthesis of CF2H‐Containing Alcohols

We have developed a novel and simple protocol for the direct incorporation of a difluoromethyl (CF₂H) group into alkenes by visible‐light‐driven photoredox catalysis. The use of fac‐[Ir(ppy)₃] (ppy=2‐pyridylphenyl) photocatalyst and shelf‐stable Hu's reagent, N‐tosyl‐S‐difluoromethyl‐S‐phenylsulfoximine, as a CF₂H source is the key to success. The well‐designed photoredox system achieves synthesis of not only β‐CF₂H‐substituted alcohols but also ethers and an ester from alkenes through solvolytic processes. The present method allows a single‐step and regioselective formation of C(sp³)–CF₂H and C(sp³)?O bonds from C=C moiety in alkenes, such as hydroxydifluoromethylation, regardless of terminal or internal alkenes. Moreover, this methodology tolerates a variety of functional groups.     

Protic NNN and NCN Pincer‐Type Ruthenium Complexes Featuring (Trifluoromethyl)pyrazole Arms: Synthesis and Application to Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Formic Acid

NNN and NCN pincer‐type ruthenium(II) complexes featuring two protic pyrazol‐3‐yl arms with a trifluoromethyl (CF₃) group at the 5‐position were synthesized and structurally characterized to evaluate the impact of the substitution on the properties and catalysis. The increased Brønsted acidity by the highly electron‐withdrawing CF₃ pendants was demonstrated by protonation–deprotonation experiments. By contrast, the IR spectra of the carbonyl derivatives as well as the cyclic voltammogram indicated that the electron density of the ruthenium atom is negligibly influenced by the CF₃ group. Catalysis of these complexes in the decomposition of formic acid to dihydrogen and carbon dioxide was also examined. The NNN pincer‐type complex 1 a with the CF₃ group exhibited a higher catalytic activity than the tBu‐substituted analogue 1 b . In addition, the bis(CF₃‐pyrazolato) ammine derivative 4 catalyzed the reaction even in the absence of base additives.     

Photoredox‐Coupled F‐Nucleophilic Addition: Allylation of gem‐Difluoroalkenes

A novel strategy for the expedient construction of CF₃‐embeded tertiary/quarternary carbon centers was developed by taking advantage of photoredox catalysis. Thanks to a key step of single‐electron oxidation, electron‐rich gem‐difluoroalkenes, which otherwise are essentially reluctant towards F‐nucleoplilic addition, now readily participate in this fluoroallylation reaction. Furthermore, this strategy provides an elegant example for the generation, as well as functionalization, of α‐CF₃‐substituted benzylic radical intermediates using cheap and readily available starting materials.     

Photoinduced Oxidation Reaction of Benzotrifluoride with OH Radical by the Laser Flash Method

The optical transient and kinetics characterizations of the transients formed in the reaction of OH with benzotrifluoride (BTF) were performed by a laser flash photolysis technique. The results indicated that the formation of π‐type adduct of C₆H₅(OH)CF₃ was the major reaction channel, and the δ‐type adduct of C₆H₅CF₃OH formation was an additional minor process in the oxidation reaction of BTF attacked by OH radicals yielded from the photolysis of H₂O₂. Addition of OH to the CF₃ group led to the fluoride ion elimination to yield α,α‐difluorophenylcarbinol (C₆H₅CF₂OH). Trifluoromethylphenol (HOC₆H₄CF₃) of meta‐, para‐ and ortho‐substituted isomers resulted from the addition of OH to the BTF aromatic ring.     

Electropolymerizable IrIII Complexes with β‐Ketoiminate Ancillary Ligands

A series of electropolymerizable cyclometallated Ir^III complexes were synthesized and their electrochemical and photophysical properties studied. The triphenylamine electropolymerizable fragment was introduced by using triphenylamine‐2‐phenylpyridine and, respectively, triphenylamine‐benzothiazole as cyclometalated ligands. The coordination sphere was completed by two differently substituted β‐ketoiminate ligands deriving from the condensation of acetylacetone or hexafluoroacetylacetone with para‐bromoaniline. The influence of the ‐CH₃/‐CF₃ substitution to the electrochemical and photophysical properties was investigated. Both complexes with CH₃ substituted β‐ketoiminate were emissive in solution and in solid state. Highly stable films were electrodeposited onto ITO coated glass substrates. Their emission was quenched by electron trapping within the polymeric network as proven by electrochemical studies. The ‐CF₃ substitution of the β‐ketoiminate leads instead to the quenching of the emission and inhibits electropolymerization.     

Pd(0)‐Catalyzed Tandem One‐Pot Reaction of Biphenyl Ketones/Aldehydes to the Corresponding Di‐substituted Aryl Olefins

Synthesis of di‐substituted aryl olefins via a Pd(0)‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction of biphenyl ketones/aldehydes, tosylhydrazide, and aryl bromides (or benzyl halides) was developed. This methodology was achieved by one‐pot two‐step reactions involving the preparation of N ‐tosylhydrazones by reacting tosylhydrazide with biphenyl ketones/aldehydes, followed by coupling with aryl bromides (or benzyl halides) in the presence of Pd(PPh₃ )₄ and lithium t ‐butoxide to produce various di‐substituted aryl olefins in moderate to good yields.     

An Insight of the Results Provided by Color‐Tuning Studies Made on Ir(III) Complexes: A pi‐Neutral CF3 Group Viewed by Adjusting Energies of pi‐type Molecular Orbitals

The pi‐nature of a CF₃ group can be understood through analysis of its bond orbitals (BOs) mixed into the pi‐type molecular orbitals of CF₃‐substituted Ir(ppy)₂MDPA⁺ complexes (ppy=2‐phenyl‐pyridine and MDPA=methylated 2,2′‐dipyridyl amine). It has been found that, through this natural bond orbital analysis, the parent’s molecular orbitals (MOs) can be stabilized by χρ^*_CF BO via negative hyperconjugation and, simultaneously, destabilized by electron lp(F) BO. Since these two competing pi‐effects are virtually counterbalanced as indicated by the vanishing values of crystal orbital overlap populations, the chemical substitution strategy originated from lowering of HOMO by using this electron‐withdrawing CF₃ group has been found effective in color‐tuning to blue region. Based on reduced shielding effect due to de‐ creased χρ‐electron density, the reported position dependent CF₃‐substitution effects on pi‐type MOs can also be understood through HOMO/LUMO wavefunction analysis.     

Convenient Synthesis of 1H‐Indol‐1‐yl Boronates via Palladium(0)‐Catalyzed Borylation of Bromo‐1H‐indoles with ‘Pinacolborane’

An atom‐economic Pd⁰‐catalyzed synthesis of a series of pinacol‐type indolylboronates 3 from the corresponding bromoindole substrates 2 and pinacolborane (pinBH) as borylating agent was elaborated. The optimal catalyst system consisted of a 1 : 2 mixture of [Pd(OAc)₂] and the ortho‐substituted biphenylphosphine ligand L‐3 (Scheme 4, Table). Our synthetic protocol was applied to the fast, preparative‐scale synthesis of 1‐substituted indolylboronates 3a – h in the presence of different functional groups, and at a catalyst load of only 1 mol‐% of Pd.     

Insertion Reactions of 1,2‐Disubstituted Olefins with an α‐Diimine Palladium(II) Complex

The migratory insertions of cis or trans olefins CH(X)?CH(Me) (X = Ph, Br, or Et) into the metal–acyl bond of the complex [Pd(Me)(CO)(ⁱPr₂dab)]⁺ [B{3,5‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃}₄]^? ( 1 ) (ⁱPr₂dab = 1,4‐diisopropyl‐1,4‐diazabuta‐1,3‐diene = N,N′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diylidene)bis[1‐methylethanamine]) are described (Scheme 1). The resulting five‐membered palladacycles were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray analysis. Experimental data reveal some important aspects concerning the regio‐ and stereochemistry of the insertion process. In particular, the presence of a Ph or Br substituent at the alkene leads to the formation of highly regiospecific products. Moreover, in all cases, the geometry of the substituents in the formed palladacycle was the same as in the starting olefin, as a consequence of a cis addition of the Pd–acyl fragment to the C?C bond. Reaction with CO and MeOH of the five‐membered complex derived from trans‐β‐methylstyrene (= [(1E)‐prop‐1‐enyl]benzene) insertion, yielded the 2,3‐substituted γ‐keto ester 9 with an (2RS,3SR)‐configuration (Scheme 3).     

Synthesis,characterization and biological activities of two novel orthopalladated complexes: Interactions with DNA and bovine serum albumin,antitumour activity and molecular docking studies

[Pd(L₁)(C,N)]CF₃SO₃ and [Pd(L₂)(C,N)]CF₃SO₃ (L₁ = 2,2′ ‐bipyridine, L₂ = 1,10‐phenanthroline and C,N = benzylamine) novel orthopalladated complexes have been synthesized and characterized using various techniques. The binding of the complexes with native calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) was monitored using UV–visible absorption spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectroscopy and thermal denaturation studies. Our results indicate that these complexes can strongly bind to CT‐DNA via partial intercalative mode. In addition, fluorescence spectrometry of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with the complexes shows that the fluorescence quenching mechanism of BSA is a static process. The results of site‐competitive replacement experiments with specific site markers clearly indicate that the complexes bind to site I of BSA. Notably, the complexes exhibit significant in vitro cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines (Jurkat and MCF‐7) with IC₅₀ values varying from 37 to 53 μM. Finally, a molecular docking experiment effectively proves the binding of the Pd(II) complexes to DNA and BSA.