Nickel‐Mediated Trifluoromethylation of Phenol Derivatives by Aryl C−O Bond Activation

The increasing pharmaceutical importance of trifluoromethylarenes has stimulated the development of more efficient trifluoromethylation reactions. Tremendous efforts have focused on copper‐ and palladium‐mediated/catalyzed trifluoromethylation of aryl halides. In contrast, no general method exists for the conversion of widely available inert electrophiles, such as phenol derivatives, into the corresponding trifluoromethylated arenes. Reported herein is a practical nickel‐mediated trifluoromethylation of phenol derivatives with readily available trimethyl(trifluoromethyl)silane (TMSCF₃). The strategy relies on PMe₃‐promoted oxidative addition and transmetalation, and CCl₃CN‐induced reductive elimination. The broad utility of this transformation has been demonstrated through the direct incorporation of trifluoromethyl into aromatic and heteroaromatic systems, including biorelevant compounds.     

Nickel-Mediated Trifluoromethylation of Phenol Derivatives by Aryl C−O Bond Activation

The increasing pharmaceutical importance of trifluoromethylarenes has stimulated the development of more efficient trifluoromethylation reactions. Tremendous efforts have focused on copper- and palladium-mediated/catalyzed trifluoromethylation of aryl halides. In contrast, no general method exists for the conversion of widely available inert electrophiles, such as phenol derivatives, into the corresponding trifluoromethylated arenes. Reported herein is a practical nickel-mediated trifluoromethylation of phenol derivatives with readily available trimethyl(trifluoromethyl)silane (TMSCF₃). The strategy relies on PMe₃-promoted oxidative addition and transmetalation, and CCl₃CN-induced reductive elimination. The broad utility of this transformation has been demonstrated through the direct incorporation of trifluoromethyl into aromatic and heteroaromatic systems, including biorelevant compounds.     

Recent Developments on the Trifluoromethylation of (Hetero)Arenes

Aryl‐CF₃ as an extremely important family of fluorinated organic compounds holds wide applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and advanced materials. Traditionally, such trifluoromethylated compounds have been synthesized from the corresponding aryl trichlorides via Cl exchange reactions (Scheme 1 ). This Focus review gives an overview over the recent development of trifluoromethylation of (hetero)arenes.     

Solid-State Radical C−H Trifluoromethylation Reactions Using Ball Milling and Piezoelectric Materials

The application of piezoelectricity for the generation of trifluoromethyl (CF₃) radicals is reported together with the development of a method for the mechanochemical C−H trifluoromethylation of aromatic compounds. As compared to conventional solution-based approaches, this mechanoredox C−H trifluoromethylation enables cleaner and more sustainable access to a wide range of trifluoromethylated N-heterocycles and peptides, which are important structural motifs in modern drug discovery. This study thus represents an important milestone for future applications of mechanoredox systems to medicinal and pharmaceutical science.     

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.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Trifluoromethylation of Internal Olefinic CH Bonds: Efficient Routes to Trifluoromethylated Tetrasubstituted Olefins and N‐Heterocycles

The functionalization of internal olefins has been a challenging task in organic synthesis. Efficient Cu^II‐catalyzed trifluoromethylation of internal olefins, that is, α‐oxoketene dithioacetals, has been achieved by using Cu(OH)₂ as a catalyst and TMSCF₃ as a trifluoromethylating reagent. The push–pull effect from the polarized olefin substrates facilitates the internal olefinic C?H trifluoromethylation. Cyclic and acyclic dithioalkyl α‐oxoketene acetals were used as the substrates and various substituents were tolerated. The internal olefinic C?H bond cleavage was not involved in the rate‐determining step, and a mechanism that involves radicals is proposed based on a TEMPO‐quenching experiment of the trifluoromethylation reaction. Further derivatization of the resultant CF₃ olefins led to multifunctionalized tetrasubstituted CF₃ olefins and trifluoromethylated N‐heterocycles.     

Trifluoromethylation of various aromatic compounds by CF3I in the presence of Fe(II) compound, H2O2 and dimethylsulfoxide

Trifluoromethylation of aromatic and hetero-aromatic compounds by CF₃I in the presence of Fe(II) compound, H₂O₂ and dimethylsulfoxide was investigated. Various trifluoromethylated benzene derivatives, six-membered nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds and five-membered hetero-aromatic compounds were obtained under mild conditions. General orientation of electrophilic substitution of aromatic compounds was observed similarly as reported in other radical trifluoromethylation previously.     

Borazine‐CF3− Adducts for Rapid,Room Temperature,and Broad Scope Trifluoromethylation

A fluoroform‐derived borazine CF₃^? transfer reagent is used to effect rapid nucleophilic reactions in the absence of additives, within minutes at 25 °C. Inorganic electrophiles spanning seven groups of the periodic table can be trifluoromethylated in high yield, including transition metals used for catalytic trifluoromethylation. Organic electrophiles included (hetero)arenes, enabling C?H and C?X trifluoromethylation reactions. Mechanistic analysis supports a dissociative mechanism for CF₃^? transfer, and cation modification afforded a reagent with enhanced stability.     

Borazine‐CF3− Adducts for Rapid,Room Temperature,and Broad Scope Trifluoromethylation

A fluoroform‐derived borazine CF₃⁻ transfer reagent is used to effect rapid nucleophilic reactions in the absence of additives, within minutes at 25 °C. Inorganic electrophiles spanning seven groups of the periodic table can be trifluoromethylated in high yield, including transition metals used for catalytic trifluoromethylation. Organic electrophiles included (hetero)arenes, enabling C−H and C−X trifluoromethylation reactions. Mechanistic analysis supports a dissociative mechanism for CF₃⁻ transfer, and cation modification afforded a reagent with enhanced stability.     

Copper-mediated trifluoromethylation of potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates with Langlois' reagent

Synthesis of trifluoromethylated acetylenes by copper-mediated trifluoromethylation of potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates with CF₃ radicals generated from NaSO₂CF₃ and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) is communicated. The trifluoromethylated acetylenes were obtained in good to moderate yields. The presented method tolerates a wide range of aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates.     

Trifluoromethylation of heterocycles via visible light photoredox catalysis

A method has been developed for the visible light-induced trifluoromethylation of heterocyclic compounds. A variety of electron-rich heterocycles were transformed into trifluoromethylated products by using CF₃I as the trifluoromethyl radical source and Ru(bpy)₃Cl₂ as the photocatalyst under mild reaction conditions. This operationally simple and eco-friendly process can introduce trifluoromethyl groups without prefunctionalization.     

Redox potentials of trifluoromethyl-containing compounds

Trifluoromethylation reactions are important transformations in the research and development of drugs, agrochemicals and functional materials. An oxidation/reduction process of trifluoromethyl-containing compounds is thought to be involved in many recently tested catalytic trifluoromethylation reactions. To provide helpful physical chemical data for mechanistic studies on trifluoromethylation reactions, the redox potentials of a variety of trifluoromethyl-containing compounds and trifluoromethylated radicals were studied by quantum-chemical methods. First, wB97X-D was found to be a reliable method in predicting the ionization potentials, electron affinities, bond dissociation enthalpies and redox potentials of trifluoromethyl-containing compounds. One-electron absolute redox potentials of 79 trifluoromethyl substrates and 107 trifluoromethylated radicals in acetonitrile were then calculated with this method. The theoretical results were found to be helpful for interpreting experimental observations such as the relative reaction efficiency of different trifluoromethylation reagents. Finally, the bond dissociation free energies (BDFE) of various compounds were found to have a good linear relationship with the related bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE). Based on this observation, a convenient method was proposed to predict one-electron redox potentials of neutral molecules.     

Photoredox catalysed allylic trifluoromethylation via ring opening of vinyl cyclopropanes using Langlois reagent

Trifluoromethylation of vinylcyclopropanes (VCPs) has been developed under mild reaction conditions to synthesize allylic trifluoromethylated derivatives with high yield and E/Z selectivity using visible light photo-redox catalysis and Langlois reagent (CF₃SO₂Na) as a trifluoromethylation source. Further, we demonstrate a gram scale synthesis procedure for a trifluoromethylation of vinylcyclopropane.     

Copper-catalyzed C(sp3)-C(sp3) bond formation using a hypervalent iodine reagent: an efficient allylic trifluoromethylation

An efficient copper-catalyzed allylic trifluoromethylation reaction has been developed. This reaction provides a general and straightforward way to synthesize allylic trifluoromethylated compounds under mild conditions.     

CF3SO2Na as a Bifunctional Reagent: Electrochemical Trifluoromethylation of Alkenes Accompanied by SO2 Insertion to Access Trifluoromethylated Cyclic N‐Sulfonylimines

An unprecedented electrochemical trifluoromethylation/SO₂ insertion/cyclization process has been achieved in an undivided cell in an atom‐economic fashion. The protocol relies on tandem cyclization of N‐cyanamide alkenes by using Langlois’ reagent as a source of both CF₃ and SO₂ under direct anodically oxidative conditions, in which two C?C bonds, two C?X bonds (N?S and S?C), and two rings were formed in a single operation. This transformation enabled efficient construction of various trifluoromethylated cyclic N‐sulfonylimines from readily accessible materials.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Remote C(sp3)−H Trifluoromethylation of Carboxamides and Sulfonamides

Reported herein is an unprecedented protocol for trifluoromethylation of unactivated aliphatic C(sp³)?H bonds. With Cu(OTf)₂ as the catalyst, the reaction of N‐fluoro‐substituted carboxamides (or sulfonamides) with Zn(CF₃)₂ complexes provides the corresponding δ‐trifluoromethylated carboxamides (or sulfonamides) in satisfactory yields under mild reaction conditions. A radical mechanism involving 1,5‐hydrogen atom transfer of N‐radicals followed by CF₃‐transfer from Cu^II?CF₃ complexes to the thus formed alkyl radicals is proposed.     

Preparation of TMS protected trifluoromethylated alcohols using trimethylamine N-oxide and trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane (TMSCF3)

A catalytic trifluoromethylation of aldehydes using trimethylamine N-oxide and trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane (TMSCF₃) is described. Aromatic, aliphatic and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes provided good to excellent yields of the corresponding trifluoromethylated products.     

TTMPP-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds and imines with trifluoromethylsilane

A highly basic phosphine, tris(2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl)phosphine (TTMPP), catalyzes trifluoromethylation using trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane to give the corresponding trifluoromethylated products in good to high yields, with both carbonyl compounds and imines.     

Syntheses of 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds through direct trifluoromethylation with CF3I and their application to fluorinated pyrazoles syntheses

Direct trifluoromethylation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with CF₃I in the presence of a Fenton reagent in dimethylsulfoxide was investigated. 1,3-Diketones, 3-oxocarboxylates and 3-oxocarboxamides were readily trifluoromethylated at the methylene carbon between two oxo groups. Cycloaddition of hydrazine derivatives to the obtained 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds provided fluorinated pyrazoles. 4-(Trifluoromethyl)pyrazole derivatives were formed from 2-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-diketones, while 3-oxo-2-(trifluoromethyl)carboxylates or carboxamides gave 5-fluoropyrazole-4-carboxylates or carboxamides, respectively, via 3-hydrazono-2-(trifluoromethyl)carboxylates or carboxamides as an intermediate.     

Copper‐Promoted Conversion of Aromatic Amines into Trifluoromethylated Arenes: One‐Pot Sandmeyer Trifluoromethylation

A simple copper‐promoted one‐pot Sandmeyer trifluoromethylation of aromatic amines with Langlois’ reagent has been demonstrated. The reaction is performed in mild reaction conditions under an air atmosphere with good substrate scope and functional group compatibility. It provides an alternative and straightforward synthetic approach to access a variety of trifluoromethylated arenes.