Practical synthesis of gem-difluorides from cyclohexanone: Synthesis of gem-bistrifluoroacetates and their reactions with fluoride nucleophiles

Formation of ketone acylals bearing trihaloacetoxy groups and their nucleophilic geminal disubstitution by fluoride ions were investigated. Cyclohexanone reacted with trifluoroacetic anhydride without catalyst to give gem-bistrifluoroacetates via a concerted bimolecular reaction. Treatment with hydrogen fluoride under mild conditions efficiently yielded the corresponding gem-difluorides. In this reaction process, trifluoroacetic acid was recovered and converted to trifluoroacetic anhydride using P₂O₅. Since gem-difluorides were derived from ketones, HF and P₂O₅, this constitutes a practical synthesis of gem-difluorides.     

gem-Difluorosubstituted NH-azomethine ylides in the synthesis of 4-fluorooxazolines via the three-component reaction of imines, trifluoroacetophenones and CF2Br2

A simple one-step synthesis of a new class of fluorinated heterocycles, 4-fluoro-3-oxazolines, from diarylmethanimines, trifluoroacetophenones and CF₂Br₂ is described. The reaction proceeds via the sequential formation of difluorocarbene and a gem-difluorosubstituted NH-azomethine ylide, followed by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with a ketone.     

Preparation of new gem-difluoro heterocyclic-fused 1,2,3-triazole derivatives

Starting from easily accessible gem-difluoropropargylic derivatives a cascade nucleophilic substitution by N₃^–, followed by an intramolecular 1,3 dipolar cycloaddition, afforded in fair to good yields new 1,2,3-triazoles fused to pyrrolidines or piperidines. These molecules, with a gem-difluoro group vicinal to the triazoles, are fluorinated analogues of bioactive heterocycles. In parallel, a few open chain analogues have been prepared in order to evaluate the possible role of the bicyclic core on the biological properties of such molecules.     

A new flexible strategy for the synthesis of gem-difluoro-bisarylic derivatives and heterocyclic analogues

A new strategy has been designed for the preparation of gem-difluoro-bisarylic derivatives. It starts from easily accessible and reactive gem-difluoro-propargylic intermediates and elaborates the aromatic rings by a Diels-Alder-aromatization sequence. Heterocyclic systems can be also obtained by 1,3 dipolar cycloadditions, affording mixed aromatic/heteroaromatic derivatives with CF₂ as a linker. Since this motif is a bioisostere of O and CO, corresponding bisarylic scaffolds could be of use to prepare chemical libraries of fluorinated analogues of bioactive natural products and/or drugs.     

Highly efficient copper/palladium-catalyzed tandem Ullman reaction/arylation of azoles via C-H activation: synthesis of benzofuranyl and indolyl azoles from 2-(gem-dibromovinyl)phenols(anilines) with azoles

In this paper, a novel and highly efficient copper/palladium-catalyzed tandem intramolecular Ullman-type C-O(N) coupling reaction of 2-(gem-dibromovinyl)phenols(anilines) followed by an intermolecular arylation of azoles through C-H activation has been developed. In the presence of CuBr with Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ used as co-catalyst, and LiO^tBu as a base, the one-pot reactions of 2-(gem-dibromovinyl)phenols and 2-(gem-dibromovinyl)anilines with a variety of azoles, including oxazoles, imidazoles, thiazoles, and oxadiazoles underwent smoothly in toluene at 100 °C to generate the corresponding biheteroaryl products in high yields. A tentative mechanism of copper/palladium-catalyzed tandem reaction was described.     

Synthesis of gem-difluorides from aldehydes using DFMBA

Synthesis of gem-difluorides from aldehydes was effectively achieved using DFMBA and Et₃N-3HF under microwave irradiation or conventional thermal heating. Both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes could be converted to the corresponding gem-difluorides in good yields.     

Difluorocarbene chemistry: synthesis of gem-difluorocyclopropenylalkynes and 3,3,3′,3′-tetrafluorobicyclopropyl-1,1′-dienes

A series of gem-difluorocyclopropenylalkynes are easily obtained in good yields by the Sonogashira reaction of 3,3-difluoro-1-iodocyclopropenes with terminal alkynes. Onto these new alkynes addition of difluorocarbene, generated from the decomposition of FSO₂CF₂COOTMS in diglme in the presence of 10 mol% anhydrous NaF at 120 °C, gives 3,3,3′,3′-tetrafluorobicyclopropyl-1,1′-dienes. Acid hydrolysis of gem-difluorocyclopropenylalkynes in refluxing CH₃OH affords the corresponding methoxycarbonylenynes.     

Cross-coupling of vinyldisilacyclobutane with olefins catalyzed by [RuH(Cl)(CO)(PCy3)2]

Cross-coupling of vinyldisilacyclobutane with a variety of olefins in the presence of [RuH(Cl)(CO)(PCy₃)₂] leads to stereoselective formation of functionalized vinyldisilacyclobutanes. Analogous homo-coupling of vinyldisilacyclobutane leads to the formation of E- and gem-bis(silyl)ethenes. The reaction offers a new route for synthesis of attractive monomers for ring opening polymerization (ROP).     

gem-Difluoromethylation of α- and γ-ketoesters: preparation of gem-difluorinated α-hydroxyesters and γ-butyrolactones

PhSCF₂SiMe₃ has been demonstrated as difluoromethyl carbanion synthon (⁻CF₂H). It reacts chemoselectively with α- and γ-ketoesters at the keto group in the presence of a catalytic amount of TBAF in THF to give the corresponding α-hydroxy ester adducts as well as γ-gem-difluorophenylsulfanylmethylated-γ-butyrolactones in good yields. Reductive cleavage of the phenylsulfanyl group of these products employing Bu₃SnH/AIBN gives the corresponding gem-difluoromethylated α-hydroxyesters and γ-butyrolactones in good yields.     

Reductive esterification of aromatic aldehydes using Zn/Ac2O/imidazole or Zn/Yb(OTf)3/(RCO)2O system

Benzaldehydes are reduced by metallic zinc in the presence of Ac₂O and imidazole, giving the corresponding benzyl acetates in good yields. Reductive esterification of aromatic aldehydes is also carried out via gem-diacetoxy compounds. Carbonyl compounds are readily converted to the gem-diacyloxy compounds in excellent yields on treatment with 2 molar amounts of acid anhydride and 10 mol% of Yb(OTf)₃ in MeCN at room temperature. Thus-formed diacyloxy compounds derived from aromatic aldehydes are reduced in situ by metallic zinc to afford the corresponding esters.     

Synthesis of gem-diamino derivatives on solid support

Anchoring of an α-amino-acid amide residue by its amine function to a carbamate resin followed by primary amide Hofmann rearrangement led to a gem-diamino residue linked to the resin. The generated primary amine could be acylated with various carboxylic compounds offering a large variety of molecules. Furthermore, this new solid-phase strategy allowed a reliable synthesis of a gem-diamino monomeric residue which could not be easily obtained in solution due to the limited stability of monocarbamate-protected gem-diaminoalkyl derivatives.     

Efficient synthesis of 5-fluoroalkylated 1H-1,2,3-triazoles and application of the bromodifluoromethylated triazole to the synthesis of novel bicyclic gem-difluorinated 1H-pyrano[3,4-d][1,2,3]-triazol-4-one compounds

A series of 5-fluoroalkylated 1H-1,2,3-triazoles were synthesized in good yield by the regiospecific 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of (Z)-ethyl 3-fluoroalkyl-3-pyrrolidino-acrylates with aryl or benzyl azides. In the cases of benzyl azides, addition of Na₂CO₃ was crucial for a high yield of the triazoles. Tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene (TDAE) promoted reaction of bromodifluoro-methylated triazole with aldehydes affording a new class of β,β-difluoro-β-triazolyl alcohol derivatives, which were lactonized with catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid in toluene at 80-90°C to give a series of novel bicyclic gem-difluorinated 1H-pyrano[3,4-d][1,2,3]-triazol-4-one compounds in good yield.     

α,α-Difluoro-α-phenylsulfanylmethyl carbanion equivalent: a novel gem-difluoromethylenation of carbonyl compounds

α,α-Difluoro-α-phenylsulfanyl-α-trimethylsilylmethane (PhSCF₂SiMe₃) has been demonstrated as an α,α-difluoro-α-phenylsulfanylmethyl carbanion equivalent. gem-Difluorophenylsulfanylmethylation of carbonyl compounds has been successfully achieved by using PhSCF₂SiMe₃ in the presence of TBAF in THF. The adducts have been converted to the corresponding gem-difluoroalkenes by a novel pyrolytic and/or FVP elimination of the β-hydroxy-α-phenylsufinyl derivatives under reduced pressure.     

A novel type of donor–acceptor cyclopropane with fluorine as the donor: (3 + 2)-cycloadditions with carbonyls

gem-Difluorocyclopropane diester is disclosed as a new type of donor–acceptor cyclopropane, which smoothly participates in (3 + 2)-cycloadditions with various aldehydes and ketones. This work represents the first application of gem-difluorine substituents as an unconventional donor group for activating cyclopropane substrates in catalytic cycloaddition reactions. With this method, a wide variety of densely functionalized gem-difluorotetrahydrofuran skeletons, which are otherwise difficult to prepare, could be readily assembled in high yields under mild reaction conditions. Computational studies show that the cleavage of the C–C bond between the difluorine and diester moieties occurs upon a S_N2-type attack of the carbonyl oxygen.

A new type of donor–acceptor cyclopropane with gem-difluorine as an unconventional donor group undergoes (3 + 2)-cycloadditions with various aldehydes/ketones, affording densely functionalized gem-difluorotetrahydrofurans.     

Reactivity of γ-chloro-gem-trichloroalkanes with chromous chloride

CrCl₂-mediated condensation of γ-chloro-gem-trichloroalkanes with aldehyde generates homoallylic alcohols through a hydride rearrangement followed by a Nozaki-Hiyama allylation.     

Efficient synthesis of vinyl chlorides and/or gem-dichlorides from ketones by treatment with tungsten hexachloride

Treatment of cyclic ketones, e.g. 4, with tungsten hexachloride (WCl₆) provided good yields of vinyl chlorides, e.g. 5, and/or gem-dichlorides. A trans-diequatorial dichloride 9 was prepared by treatment of the corresponding epoxide 8 with WCl₆.     

ZnCl2-catalyzed hydrodefluorination of gem-difluoromethylene derivatives with lithium aluminum hydride

Hydrodefluorination of gem-difluoromethylene derivatives with lithium aluminum hydride in the presence of a catalytic amount of ZnCl₂ in good to high yields was described. A possible mechanism is also suggested.     

A general route for the synthesis of β,β-difluorocarboxylic acids

A new method for the preparation of β,β-difluoro- (and other gem-difluoro) acids has been developed. It is based on the fact that 3-oxocarboxylic esters are easy to make and convert to the corresponding dithiane derivatives. These dithianes reacted with BrF₃, a commercial, but rarely used reagent in organic chemistry, under very mild conditions to form the corresponding difluoroesters, which in turn could be quantitatively hydrolyzed to the free gem-difluoroacids.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of potent glycosidase inhibitors: 4-deoxy-4,4-difluoroisofagomine and analogues

A series of 4,4-difluoroisofagomine analogues were synthesized. These compounds were tested for inhibition of eight glycosidases. The 3R,5R isomer 1 is a new and potent inhibitor against β-glucosidase from almonds with K_i value of 1.2 μM. The influence of the gem-difluoromethylene group (CF₂) on binding to glycosidases is discussed. It is concluded that only non-essential hydroxyl groups can be replaced by the gem-difluoro group and that in such a case (β-glycosidase) the change in inhibition is, interestingly, a result of the change in base strength.     

Synthesis and chiroptical property of C2-symmetric cyclohexapyrrole

Condensation reaction of gem-dimethyldipyrrylmethane-5,5′-dicarbinol and 4,4′-dimethyl-3,3′-di-iso-butyl-2,2′-bipyrrole under the catalysis by trifluoroacetic acid gave a hexapyrrolic macrocycle 6 in 15% yield after DDQ oxidation. X-ray crystallography of 6 shows that three parts of highly planar dipyrrylmethene unit are assembled by two sp³ hybridized gem-dimethyl carbon bridges and one direct linking at the pyrrole α-positions, leading to C₂ molecular symmetry. The complexation of 6 with (S)-(+)- and (R)-(−)-mandelic acid induced a CD Cotton effect at 461 and 650 nm.