Silver‐Mediated N‐Trifluoromethylation of Amides and Peptides

We report herein the direct N‐trifluoromethylation of N‐H amides. Promoted by AgOTf and 2‐fluoropyridine, the reaction of a variety of amides with Selectfluor, TMSCF₃ and CsF proceeds smoothly at room temperature leading to the corresponding N‐trifluoromethylated products in satisfactory yields. The protocol is also applicable to amino acid derivatives, resulting in efficient and chemoselective N‐trifluoromethylation of di‐ and tri‐peptides with retention of configuration. A mechanism involving reductive elimination of Ag(III) intermediates to form N—CF₃ bonds is proposed.     

Visible Light-Promoted Ring-Opening Alkenylation of Cyclic Hemiacetals through β-Scission of Alkoxy Radicals

The chemistry of alkoxy radicals was extensively explored during the period of 1960s to 1990s, but it has remained dormant for the past few decades. Recently, alkoxy radicals attract the attentions again, because new methods for generating alkoxy radical species have emerged. These newly developed methods are mainly based on the photolysis by visible light under mild conditions, thus allowing for new transformations of the carbon-centered radical species that are generated from the β-scission or hydrogen abstraction of the alkoxy radicals. Herein, we demonstrate that the alkoxy radicals derived from cyclic hemiacetals can be generated through visible-light-induced electron transfer with sodium iodide and triphenylphosphine as the catalyst. The alkoxy radicals subsequently undergo β-scission to generate carbon-centered radicals, which are trapped by cinnamic acids, aryl alkenes, vinylboronic acid and silyl enol ether to deliver the corresponding C—C bond forming products. This catalytic method for ring-opening alkenylation reaction of cyclic hemiacetal derivatives under visible-light irradiation conditions demonstrates the compatibility of the visible light-promoted alkoxy radical generation method with various carbon radical trapping processes. This work opens up new possibilities for the application of alkoxy radicals in organic synthesis.      

Copper‐Catalyzed Carbotrifluoromethylation of Unactivated Alkenes Driven by Trifluoromethylation of Alkyl Radicals

We report herein an unprecedented protocol for radical carbotrifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes. With Cu(OTf)₂ as the catalyst, the reaction of unactivated alkenes, TMSCF₃ and activated alkyl chlorides at room temperature provides the corresponding carbotrifluoromethylation products in satisfactory yields. Directed by trifluoromethylation of alkyl radicals, the method exhibits an excellent regioselectivity that is opposite to those driven by CF₃ radical addition.     

Arenesulfonyl Fluoride Synthesis via Copper‐free Sandmeyer‐type Fluorosulfonylation of Arenediazonium Salts

The limited availability of highly valuable arenesulfonyl fluorides seriously hinders their further application in many research fields including medicinal chemistry and chemical biological, organic synthesis, polymer preparation, etc. We report herein a mild and efficient copper‐free Sandmeyer‐type fluorosulfonylation reaction of various arenediazonium salts to prepare valuable arenesulfonyl fluorides using K₂S₂O₅ as both a reductant and a practical sulfonyl source in combination with N‐fluorobenzenesulfonimide as an effective fluorine source. This methodology provides an attractive route to diverse important arenesulfonyl fluorides given the overall practicality and scope.     

Trifluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds with sodium trifluoroacetate

In the presence of copper(I) iodide as catalyst, a variety of carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes, ketones and acid anhydrous, could be trifluoromethylated with sodium trifluoroacetate to give the corresponding alcohols in moderate to high yields, and a possible mechanism was proposed to explain the roles of catalyst and solvent in the reaction system.     

Regio‐Divergent C—H Alkynylation with Janus Directing Strategy via Ir(III) Catalysis

Directing strategy has been extensively exploited to maintain activity and selectivity for the rapid access to functionalized molecules and pharmaceutical targets. However, ‘one‐to‐one’ activation model was usually achieved through traditional directing strategy. Herein, we achieved ‘one‐to‐two’ activation model by slight modification of simple and practical ketoxime and amide functionality. With judicious choice of directing groups, Csp³—H and Csp²—H bond alkynylation reaction, and more significantly, dehydrogenative Csp³—H alkynylation, were realized, enabling the regio‐divergent late‐stage modifications of pharmaceuticals.     

Kinetics and Mechanism of the Reaction of Chloroplatinum(II) Complexes with Alkyl Radicals

The reaction between certain platinum(II) complexes and alky radicals produces an unstable organoplatinum(III) intermediate, {Pt^III -R}. The kinetics of this step were evaluated by laser flash photolysis with ABTS² (2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) ion) and TMPD (tetramethylphenylenediamine) as kinetic probes. The rate constants for PtCl₄^2? are: k_Pt/10⁸ L mol^?1 s^?1 = 5.2, 2.8 and 0.27 for CH_3, C₂H₅, and CH₂Cl in aqueous solution at pH 1. Those with cis-Pt(NH₃)₂Cl₂ are somewhat smaller, and those for Pt(NH₃)₄²⁺ too small to measure will) this technique. The product analysis indicates that the decomposition of organoplatinum takes place by hydrolysis and (for R = C₂H₅ only) by β-elimination, The kinetic isotope effect on die β-elimination of DCH₂CH₂PtC₄,^2? is k_H/k_D = 1.2. The β-elimination step produces a Pt^III-hydride that releases hydrogen gas and forms {Pt_III-OH}. The short-lived Pt(III) intermediate may disproportionate or oxidize the Co^II complex that is produced in the radical-generating step.     

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Avarol and Avarone

Formation of the C11−C1′ bond through application of Barton's radical decarboxylation and quinone addition is the cornerstone of a new convergent and concise synthesis of the marine metabolites avarol ( 1 ) and avarone ( 2 ; see scheme), for which antimitotic, antileukemic, and antiviral effects have been reported.     

Regio- and Diastereoselective Aldol Products through Three-Component Coupling Reactions of Difluoroboroxy Fischer Carbene Molybdenum Complexes

The reaction of difluoroboroxy Fischer carbene complexes , vinyl ketones, and aldehydes leads to the regioselective formation of aldol-like products (see reaction scheme). The reaction also shows a high degree of diastereofacial selectivity when chiral aldehydes are used. These results show that this is a very attractive process since the regioselective formation of aldols from nearly symmetrical ketones still remains an unsolved problem.     

Oxidative Dehydrogenative Silylation‐Alkenation Reaction of Alkyl Aromatics with Silanes

A Cu(OAc)₂/DDQ/DTBP/Py system catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenative silylation‐alkenation tandem reaction of readily available alkyl aromatic compounds with silanes was established. A variety of functionalized alkenyl organosilicon compounds were provided in good to high yields with a total β‐(E) selectivity. The control experiments revealed that the transformation might proceed through a radical pathway.     

Direct Preparation of Trifluoromethyl Ketones from Carboxylic Esters: Trifluoromethylation with (Trifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane

Previously difficult to prepare , aliphatic and alicyclic trifluoromethylketones (e.g. 1 and 2 ), which are of pharmacalogic interest as potential enzyme inhibitors, can now be synthesized easily and efficiently. The one-step reaction starting with carbonic esters and trimethyl(trifluoromethyl)silane is induced by tetrabutylammonium fluoride in nonpolar, aprotic solvents and proceeds without formation of double-addition products.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 4H-benzo[f]imidazo[1,4]diazepin-6-ones via a post-Ugi copper-catalyzed intramolecular Ullmann coupling

An efficient post-Ugi copper-catalyzed intramolecular Ullmann coupling strategy has been elaborated for the diversity-oriented synthesis of 4H-benzo[f]imidazo[1,4]diazepin-6-ones and the scope and limitations of this protocol are investigated.     

Recent Developments in the Trifluoromethylation of Alkynes

In the last few years, the development of versatile methodologies to incorporate trifluoromethyl groups into organic molecules has attracted significant attention in synthetic chemistry. This review gives an overview over the development on the trifluoromethylation of alkynes, which have not been solely discussed before. Formation of diverse C(sp, sp², sp³)?CF₃ bonds are all covered in this review.     

Iron‐Catalyzed Trifluoromethylation of Enamide

Herein the first example of the iron(II)‐catalyzed trifluoromethylation of enamide using mild and simple reaction conditions is reported. The method is cost‐effective and uses the easy‐to‐handle Togni’s reagent as the electrophilic CF₃ source. This transformation is totally regioselective at the C3 position of enamides and exhibits broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance and thus demonstrates its useful application in a late‐stage fluorination strategy.     

Decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of aryl halides using well-defined copper-trifluoroacetate and -chlorodifluoroacetate precursors

New synthetic routes to (NHC)copper-trifluoroacetate and -chlorodifluoroacetate complexes were developed (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbenes) so baseline reactivity patterns could be established for the decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of organic halides. In the presence of aryl halides, loss of CO₂ from these new precursors occurred at 160 °C concurrent with the formation of aryl-CF₃.     

A Catalytic Enantioselective Electron Transfer Reaction: Titanocene-Catalyzed Enantioselective Formation of Radicals from meso-Epoxides

A rationally designed titanium(III ) catalyst allows the opening of epoxides with high enantioselectivity. This reaction [Eq. (1)] constitutes the first example of an enantioselective transition metal catalyzed radical reaction that proceeds by electron transfer.     

Bimolecular Homolytic Substitutions at Nitrogen: An Experimental and Theoretical Study on the Gas‐Phase Reactions of Alkyl Radicals with NF3

The X‐ray irradiation of binary mixtures of alkyl iodides R?I (R=CH₃, C₂H₅, or i‐C₃H₇ radicals) and NF₃ produces R?NF₂ and R?F. Based on calculations performed at the CCSD(T), MRCI(SD+Q), G3B3, and G3 levels of theory, the former product arises from a bimolecular homolytic substitution reaction (S_H2) by the alkyl radicals R, which attack the N atom of NF₃. This mechanism is consistent with the suppression of R?NF₂ by addition of O₂ (an efficient alkyl radical scavenger) to the reaction mixture. The R?F product arises from the attack of R to the F atom of NF₃, but additional contributing channels are conceivably involved. The F‐atom abstraction is, indeed, considerably more exothermic than the S_H2 reaction, but the involved energy barriers are comparable, and the two processes are comparably fast.     

Enantioselective Arylcyanation of Styrenes via Copper‐Catalyzed Radical Relay†

The first copper‐catalyzed enantioselective arylcyanation of styrenes has been developed using readily available anilines as aryl radical precursors under mild conditions, which enables easy access to chiral 2,3‐diaryl propionitriles with moderate to good enantioselectivities. This operationally straightforward reaction exhibits broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance. Notably, this method has been applied to the synthesis of chiral AIEgen as well as estrogen receptor‐β agonist (R)‐diarylpropionitrile (DPN).