Copper-catalyzed direct C-H oxidative trifluoromethylation of heteroarenes

This article describes the copper-catalyzed oxidative trifluoromethylation of heteroarenes and highly electron-deficient arenes with CF(3)SiMe(3) through direct C-H activation. In the presence of catalyst Cu(OAc)(2), ligand 1,10-phenanthroline and cobases tert-BuONa/NaOAc, oxidative trifluoromethylation of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles with CF(3)SiMe(3) proceeded smoothly using either air or di-tert-butyl peroxide as an oxidant to give the corresponding trifluoromethylated 1,3,4-oxadiazoles in high yields. Di-tert-butyl peroxide was chosen as the suitable oxidant for oxidative trifluoromethylation of 1,3-azoles and perfluoroarenes. Cu(OH)(2) and Ag(2)CO(3) were the best catalyst and oxidant for direct oxidative trifluoromethyaltion of indoles. The optimum reaction conditions enable oxidative trifluoromethylation of a range of heteroarenes that bear numerous functional groups. The prepared trifluoromethylated heteroarenes are of importance in the areas of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. The preliminary mechanistic studies of these oxidative trifluoromethylations are also reported.     

Parallel transformations of cyclohexene mediated by the Cp*W(NO) fragment

Hydrogenolysis of Cp*W(NO)(CH2CMe3)2 at room temperature in cyclohexene results in the formation of the intermediate 16e organometallic complex, [Cp*W(NO)(eta2-cyclohexene)]. This intermediate leads to three parallel transformations of cyclohexene, namely (a) C-H activation of cyclohexene to form an eta3-cyclohexenyl hydrido complex, (b) combination of cyclohexene and H2 to form a cyclohexyl hydrido complex, and (c) coupling of two molecules of cyclohexene with concomitant loss of two hydrogen atoms to form a complex containing a novel eta1,eta3-(cyclohexyl)cyclohexenyl ligand. Single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analyses of products resulting from transformations (b) and (c) have been effected.     

Rhodium-catalyzed silylcarbocyclization (SiCaC) and carbonylative silylcarbocyclization (CO-SiCaC) reactions of enynes

The reaction of a 1,6-enyne with a hydrosilane catalyzed by Rh(acac)(CO)(2), Rh(4)(CO)(12), or Rh(2)Co(2)(CO)(12) under ambient CO atmosphere or N(2) gives 2-methyl-1-silylmethylidene-2-cyclopentane or its heteroatom congener in excellent yield through silylcarbocycization (SiCaC) process. The same reaction, but in the presence of a phosphite such as P(OEt)(3) and P(OPh)(3) under 20 atm of CO, affords the corresponding 2-formylmethyl-1-silylmethylidene-2-cyclopentane or its heteroatom congener with excellent selectivity through carbonylative silylcarbocycization (CO-SiCaC) process. The SiCaC reaction has also been applied to a 1,6-enyne bearing a cyclohexenyl group as the alkene moiety and a 1,7-enyne system. The functionalized five- and six-membered ring systems obtained by these novel cyclization reactions serve as useful and versatile intermediates for the syntheses of natural and unnatural heterocyclic and carbocyclic compounds. Possible mechanisms for the SiCaC and CO-SiCaC reactions as well as unique features of these processes are discussed.     

The Suzuki coupling reaction in the stereocontrolled synthesis of 9-cis-retinoic acid and its ring-demethylated analogues.

The thallium-accelerated Suzuki coupling reaction of tetraenyl iodide 19 and cyclohexenyl boronate 18 afforded ethyl 9-cis-retinoate (12) in high yield. Both coupling partners of the Suzuki reaction are better reacted immediately after generation from their precursors, tetraenylstannane 10 and cyclohexenyl iodide 13. The geometrically homogeneous tetraenylstannane 10, comprising the polyenic side chain of ethyl 9-cis-retinoate and its ring-demethylated analogues, was synthesized by a stereoselective Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction. On the other hand, easily available cyclohexanones are ideal starting materials for preparation of the cyclohexenyl boronates required for the synthesis of the ring-modified 9-cis-retinoic acid analogues. For hindered cyclohexanones, hydrazones were converted to cyclohexenyl iodides. Iodine-lithium exchange and trapping with B(OMe)(3) then afforded the cyclohexenyl boronates. If the precursor cyclohexanone has secondary carbons, the alkenyllithium species was conveniently formed by elimination of the C,N-dilithiated intermediate obtained upon treating the trisylhydrazone with n-BuLi (Shapiro reaction). None of the above procedures allowed the generation of the more substituted organolithium from 2-methylcyclohexanone. However, the alternative Stille cross-coupling of 34 and 10 afforded 9-cis-1,1-bisdemethylretinoic acid 7. Both Suzuki and Stille coupling reactions took place under mild conditions, and the preservation of the retinoid side-chain geometry was therefore secured.     

Alkoxide- and hydroxide-induced nucleophilic trifluoromethylation using trifluoromethyl sulfone or sulfoxide

[reaction: see text] The first alkoxide- and hydroxide-induced nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds, disulfides, and other electrophiles, using phenyl trifluoromethyl sulfone 1a (sulfoxide 1b) is reported. The trifluoromethyl sulfone 1a or sulfoxide 1b acts as a "CF(3)(-)" synthon. Both sulfone 1a and sulfoxide 1b are commercially available and can also be conveniently prepared from trifluoromethane. The new methodology provides a convenient route for efficient trifluoromethylation.     

X-ray crystallographic proof of the isomer D2-C84(5) as trifluoromethylated and chlorinated derivatives, C84(CF3)16, C84Cl20, and C84Cl32

Minor isomer comes forward: Minor isomer C(84)(5) has been captured by high temperature trifluoromethylation with CF(3)I and chlorination with VCl(4). The compounds C(84)(CF(3))(16), C(84)Cl(20), and C(84)(5)Cl(32) were investigated by X-ray crystallography providing the first direct proof of the cage connectivity of D(2)-C(84)(5). The D(2)-C(84)(5)Cl(32) molecule (see figure; C grey, Cl green) contains two flattened, pyrene-like substructures on opposite poles of the cage resulting in its drum-like shape.     

Copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of aryl iodides with potassium (trifluoromethyl)trimethoxyborate

Potassium (trifluoromethyl)trimethoxyborate is introduced as a new source of CF(3) nucleophiles in copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation reactions. The crystalline salt is stable on storage, easy to handle, and can be obtained in near-quantitative yields simply by mixing B(OMe)(3), CF(3)SiMe(3), and KF. The trifluoromethylation reagent allows the conversion of various aryl iodides into the corresponding benzotrifluorides in high yields under mild, base-free conditions in the presence of catalytic quantities of a Cu(I)/1,10-phenanthroline complex.     

Unusual thermal C-h bond activation by a tungsten allene complex

Gentle thermolysis of the 18e alkyl-allyl complex, CpW(NO)(CH(2)CMe(3))(eta(3)-3,3-Me(2)C(3)H(3)) (1), generates a reactive 16e allene intermediate, CpW(NO)(eta(2)-CH(2)=C=CMe(2)) (A), with the concomitant evolution of neopentane via hydrogen abstraction from the dimethylallyl ligand. A has been structurally characterized as its PMe(3) adduct and is capable of effecting single and multiple C-H bond activations of hydrocarbon solvents. For example, the thermal reaction of 1 with cyclohexane leads to the formation of the 18e cyclohexenyl hydrido complex, CpW(NO)(eta(3)-C(6)H(9))(H) (5), as a result of three successive C-H activations of the alkane solvent.     

W(CO)5(L)-catalyzed formal cope rearrangement of allenyl silyl enol ethers

[reaction: see text] On treatment of 5-siloxyhexa-1,2,5-trienes with a catalytic amount of W(CO)(6) under photoirradiation, formal Cope rearrangement proceeded to give 2-siloxyhex-1-en-5-ynes in good yield. The electrophilic activation of the allenyl moiety by W(CO)(5) triggers the intramolecular attack of the silyl enol ether in a 6-endo manner to produce a cyclohexenyl tungsten species. Carbon-carbon bond cleavage occurs by electron donation from the anionic W(CO)(5) into the silyloxonium moiety to afford the products with regeneration of the W(CO)(5)(L).     

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds and disulfides with trifluoromethane and silicon-containing bases

Provided that DMF (or another N,N-dialkylformamide) is present in the reaction medium, at least in a catalytic amount, fluoroform trifluoromethylates efficiently carbonyl compounds, even enolizable ones, when opposed to (TMS)(2)N(-) M(+), generated in situ from N(TMS)(3) and M(+) F(-) or RO(-) Na(+). When F(-) is used in a catalytic amount, silylated alpha-(trifluoromethyl)carbinols are obtained: in this case, the four-component system HCF(3)/N(TMS)(3)/catalytic F(-)/catalytic DMF behaves like the Ruppert's reagent, especially as far as nonenolizable carbonyl compounds are concerned (CF(3)SiMe(3) remains more efficient for enolizable carbonyl compounds). This process involves an adduct between DMF and (-)CF(3) which is the true trifluoromethylating agent. In the same way, fluoroform efficiently trifluoromethylates disulfides and diselenides when deprotonated with a strong base selected from t-BuOK or N(SiMe(3))(3)/Me(4)NF (or TBAT). t-BuOK is more adapted to the trifluoromethylation of aryl disulfides whereas N(SiMe(3))(3)/F(-) is well suited to that of aliphatic disulfides.     

Intermolecular C−H Activation at the Allylic/Benzylic and Homoallylic/Homobenzylic Positions of Cyclic Hydrocarbons by a Stable Divalent Silicon Species

Direct activation of inert C(sp³)−H bonds by main group element species is yet a formidable challenge. Herein, the dehydrogenation of cyclohexene and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene through the allylic/benzylic and homoallylic/homobenzylic C−H bond activation by cyclic (alkyl)(amino)silylene 1 in neat conditions is reported to yield the corresponding aromatic compounds. As for the reaction of cyclohexene, allylsilane 3 and 7-silanorbornene 4 were also observed, which could be interpreted as a direct dehydrogenative silylation reaction of monoalkenes at the allylic positions. Experimental and computational studies suggest that the dehydrogenation of cyclohexene at the homoallylic position was accomplished by a combination of silylene 1 and radical intermediates such as hydrosilyl radical INT1 or cyclohexenyl radical H , which are generated in the initial step of the reaction.     

Synthesis of novel C2-symmetric chiral crown ethers and their application to enantioselective trifluoromethylation of aldehydes and ketones

Synthesis of novel C2-symmetric chiral crown ethers and their application to enantioselective trifluoromethylation of aldehydes and ketones are discussed. The use of a series of C2-symmetric chiral crown ethers 2 or 3 derived from commercially available (R)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol for the enantioselective trifluoromethylation of 2-naphthyl aldehyde 1a with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane in the presence of a base was attempted. Iodo-substituted crown ether 2b was found to be the most effective in the model reaction. Moderate enantioselectivities were observed for the trifluoromethylation of both aryl or alkyl aldehydes and alkyl aryl ketones in 21-44% ees. Although the ees are still improvable, this is the first example of a chiral crown ether-catalyzed enantioselective trifluoromethylation reaction.     

Ammonium bromides/KF catalyzed trifluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds with (trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane and its application in the enantioselective trifluoromethylation reaction

The trifluoromethylation of aldehydes and ketones is a potentially powerful method to introduce the CF₃ moiety into organic molecules. In general, the trifluoromethylation reaction has been performed by treatment of Me₃SiCF₃ under initiation by TBAF, TBAT, TMAF as well as CsF. However, these commercially available fluorides are rather expensive and moisture sensitive. Potassium fluoride (KF) is an inexpensive and commonly used fluoride source and can be also used as an initiator for the trifluoromethylation, but the method suffers from the significant limitation that only DMF is available as a solvent. Therefore, novel methods are highly desirable for laboratory-scale as well as large-scale preparations. Here we wish to report a convenient procedure where a KF/TBAB combination acts as a catalyst for trifluoromethylation of aldehydes, ketones, and imides in a variety of organic solvents to provide trimethylsilyl-protected α-trifluoromethyl alcohols in good to high yields. Application of the method in the enantioselective trifluoromethylation is also discussed.     

Room temperature asymmetric allylic trifluoromethylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates

(DHQD)(2)PHAL-catalyzed asymmetric allylic trifluoromethylation of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts using a Rupert-Prakash reagent is reported. This transformation provided the S(N)2' trifluoromethylated products with good yields and excellent enantioselectivities at room temperature. It was also found that the reaction could be accelerated using acetonitrile as cosolvent.     

Palladium-catalyzed desulfitative Mizoroki-Heck couplings of sulfonyl chlorides with mono- and disubstituted olefins: rhodium-catalyzed desulfitative heck-type reactions under phosphine- and base-free conditions

New conditions have been found for the desulfitative Mizoroki-Heck arylation and trifluoromethylation of mono- and disubustituted olefins with arenesulfonyl and trifluoromethanesulfonyl chlorides. Thus (E)-1,2-disubstituted alkenes with high stereoselectivity and 1,1,2-disubstituted alkenes with 12:1 to 21:1 E/Z steroselectivity can be obtained. Herrmann's palladacycle at 0.1 mol % is sufficient to catalyze these reactions, for which electron-rich or electron-poor sulfonyl chlorides and alkenes are suitable. If phosphine- and base-free conditions are required, 1 mol % [RhCl(C(2)H(4))(2)] catalyzes the desulfitative cross-coupling reactions. Contrary to results reported for [RuCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)]-catalyzed coupling reactions with sulfonyl chlorides, the palladium and rhodium desulfitative Mizoroki-Heck coupling reactions are not inhibited by radical scavenging agents. Possible sulfones arising from the sulfonylation of alkenes at 60 degrees C are not desulfitated at higher temperatures in the presence of the Pd or Rh catalysts.     

Metal-ion selectivity produced by C-alkyl substituents on the bridges of chelating ligands: the importance of short H-H nonbonded van der Waals contacts in controlling metal-ion selectivity. A thermodynamic, molecular mechanics, and crystallographic study

The effect on metal-ion selectivity of the use of cyclohexenyl bridges in ligands in place of ethylene bridges is examined (selectivity is defined as the difference in log K1 for one metal ion relative to that of another with the same ligand). The syntheses of N,N'-bis(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (Cy2-en), N,N'-bis(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)propane-1,3-diamine (Cy2-tn), and 1,7-bis(2-hydroxycyclohexyl)-1,4,7-triazaheptane (Cy2-dien) are reported. The crystal structures of [Cu(Cy2-tn)(H2O)](ClO4)2 (1) and [Cu(Cy2-dien)](ClO4)2 (2) are reported. Characteristics of 1: monoclinic, Pn space group, a=11.627(2) A, b=7.8950(10) A, c=12.737(8) A, beta=98.15(3) degrees, Z=2, R=0.0524. Characteristics of 2: orthorhombic, Pbca space group, a=21.815(16) A, b=8.525(7) A, c=25.404(14) A, Z=8, R=0.0821. Structure 1 has the Cu(II) atom coordinated in the plane of the ligand to the two N donors and two O donors, with a long bond to an axially coordinated water molecule. 2 has three N donors, and one hydroxyl O donor from the ligand is coordinated in the plane around the Cu(II) atom, with the second hydroxyl O donor of the ligand occupying an axial site with a long Cu-O bond. The salient feature of both structures is the short H-H nonbonded distance between H atoms on the cyclohexenyl bridges and H atoms on the ethylene bridges of the ligand. These short contacts are important in explaining the metal-ion selectivities of these ligands. Formation constants, determined by glass-electrode potentiometry, for the Cy2-en (Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II)), Cy2-dien (Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II)), and Cy2-tn (Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II)) complexes are reported. These all show a strong shift in selectivity toward smaller metal ions compared with the analogous ligands, where ethylene bridges are present in place of the cyclohexenyl bridges of the ligands studied here. Molecular mechanics (MM) calculations are used to analyze these changes in selectivity. These calculations show that the short H-H contacts become shorter with increasing metal-ion size, which is suggested as the cause of the shift in the selectivity of ligands in favor of smaller metal ions when ethylene bridges are replaced with cyclohexenyl bridges. MM calculations are also used to rationalize, in terms of short H-H contacts, the fact that when the chelate ring contains two neutral O donors, more stable complexes result with cis placement of the donor atoms on the cyclohexenyl bridge, but with two N donors, trans placement of the donor atoms results in more stable complexes.     

Trifluoromethylation of Arylsilanes with [(phen)CuCF3]

A method for the trifluoromethylation of arylsilanes is reported. The reaction proceeds with [(phen)CuCF₃] as the CF₃ source under mild, oxidative conditions with high functional‐group compatibility. This transformation complements prior trifluoromethylation of arenes in several ways. Most important, this method converts arylsilanes formed by the silylation of aryl C?H bonds to trifluoromethylarenes, thereby allowing the conversion of arenes to trifluoromethylarenes. The unique capabilities of the reported method are demonstrated by the conversion of a C?H bond into a C?CF₃ bond in active pharmaceutical ingredients which do not undergo this overall transformation by alternative functionalization processes, including a combination of borylation and trifluoromethylation.     

Mechanistic and computational studies of oxidatively-induced aryl-CF3 bond-formation at Pd: rational design of room temperature aryl trifluoromethylation

This article describes the rational design of first generation systems for oxidatively induced Aryl-CF(3) bond-forming reductive elimination from Pd(II). Treatment of (dtbpy)Pd(II)(Aryl)(CF(3)) (dtbpy = di-tert-butylbipyridine) with NFTPT (N-fluoro-1,3,5-trimethylpyridinium triflate) afforded the isolable Pd(IV) intermediate (dtbpy)Pd(IV)(Aryl)(CF(3))(F)(OTf). Thermolysis of this complex at 80 °C resulted in Aryl-CF(3) bond-formation. Detailed experimental and computational mechanistic studies have been conducted to gain insights into the key reductive elimination step. Reductive elimination from this Pd(IV) species proceeds via pre-equilibrium dissociation of TfO(-) followed by Aryl-CF(3) coupling. DFT calculations reveal that the transition state for Aryl-CF(3) bond formation involves the CF(3) acting as an electrophile with the Aryl ligand serving as a nucleophilic coupling partner. These mechanistic considerations along with DFT calculations have facilitated the design of a second generation system utilizing the tmeda (N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) ligand in place of dtbpy. The tmeda complexes undergo oxidative trifluoromethylation at room temperature.     

Asymmetric allylic amination in water catalyzed by an amphiphilic resin-supported chiral palladium complex

[reaction: see text] Catalytic asymmetric allylic amination of cycloalkenyl carbonates (methyl cyclohexen-2-yl carbonate, methyl cyclohepten-2-yl carbonate, methyl 5-methoxycarbonylcyclohexen-2-yl carbonate, methyl cyclohexenyl carbonate, tert-butyl 5-methoxycarbonyloxy-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridinedicarboxylate) with dibenzylamines ((C6H5CH2)2NH, (C6H5CH2)(4-CH3OC6H4CH2)NH, (4-CH3OC6H4CH2)2NH) was achieved in water under heterogeneous conditions by use of a palladium complex of (3R,9aS)-3-[2-(diphenylphosphino)phenyl]-2-phenyltetrahydro-1H-imidazo[1,5-a]indole-1-one anchored on polystyrene-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer resin to give the corresponding cycloalkenylamines with high enantiomeric selectivity (90-98% ee).     

Formation of unsymmetrical cis-dialkyls of platinum(II) from platinum(II) hydroxo-complexes

The (hydroxo) methyl complex Pt(OH)(CH₃)(Diphos) [Diphos = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂] reacts with compounds containing acidic CH bonds (HX) to give unsymmetrical cis-dialkyls of general formula Pt(CH₃)X(Diphos) [X = CH₂COCH₃, CH(COCH₃)₂, CH₂CN or CH₂NO₂]; both the methyl and the cyclohexenyl complexes Pt(OH)R(Diphos) (R = CH₃ or C₆H₉) insert carbon monoxide to give hydroxycarbonyl complexes PtR(CO₂H)(Diphos) which are remarkably stable to decomposition by β-elimination.