S‐((Phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethyl)thiophenium Salts: Carbon‐Selective Electrophilic Difluoromethylation of β‐Ketoesters, β‐Diketones,and Dicyanoalkylidenes

S‐((Phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethyl)thiophenium salts were designed and prepared by a triflic acid catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of ortho‐ethynyl aryldifluoromethyl sulfanes. The thiophenium salts were found to be efficient as electrophilic difluoromehtylating reagents for introduction of a CF₂H group to sp³‐hybridized carbon nucleophiles such as of β‐ketoesters and dicyanoalkylidenes. The (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethyl group can be readily transformed into CF₂H under mild reaction conditions. Enantioselective electrophilic difluoromethylation was also achieved in the presence of bis(cinchona) alkaloids.     

S‐((Phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethyl)thiophenium Salts: Carbon‐Selective Electrophilic Difluoromethylation of β‐Ketoesters, β‐Diketones,and Dicyanoalkylidenes

S‐((Phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethyl)thiophenium salts were designed and prepared by a triflic acid catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of ortho‐ethynyl aryldifluoromethyl sulfanes. The thiophenium salts were found to be efficient as electrophilic difluoromehtylating reagents for introduction of a CF₂H group to sp³‐hybridized carbon nucleophiles such as of β‐ketoesters and dicyanoalkylidenes. The (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethyl group can be readily transformed into CF₂H under mild reaction conditions. Enantioselective electrophilic difluoromethylation was also achieved in the presence of bis(cinchona) alkaloids.     

Nucleophilic, radical, and electrophilic (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylations

Selective incorporation of a fluoroalkyl moiety to modulate the properties of an organic molecule has become a frequently used strategy in life science- and materials science-related applications. In this context, selective introduction of a (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethyl group (PhSO₂CF₂) into organic molecules has attracted much attention, since the PhSO₂CF₂ group can be regarded as a “chemical chameleon” that can be readily transformed into difluoromethyl (CF₂H), difluoromethylene (–CF₂–), and difluoromethylidene (CF₂) functionalities. This article overviews the recent development of (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylation reactions from 2003, including the nucleophilic (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylations with PhSO₂CF₂H, PhSO₂CF₂SiMe₃ and PhSO₂CF₂Br reagents, free radical (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylations with PhSO₂CF₂I reagent, and electrophilic (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylations with a hypervalent iodine(III)-CF₂SO₂Ph reagent.     

Nucleophilic Difluoromethylation of Epoxides with PhSO(NTBS)CF2H by a Preorganization Strategy

Unlike the facile synthesis of β‐monofluoromethyl alcohols by nucleophilic monofluoromethylation of epoxides, the synthesis of β‐difluoromethyl alcohols by nucleophilic difluoromethylation of epoxides still remains a challenge. Herein, studies on tackling this problem with PhSO(NTBS)CF₂H ( 2 ; TBS=tert‐butyldimethylsilyl) are reported. The preorganization of 2 and epoxides with BF₃ ? Et₂O was found to be crucial for the reaction. The reaction shows excellent regioselectivity and has a broad substrate scope. The facile transformation of the ring‐opened products to β‐difluoromethyl, γ‐difluoromethyl, and β‐difluoromethylenyl alcohols demonstrates the synthetic utility of the reaction.     

Bis(difluoromethyl)trimethylsilicate Anion: A Key Intermediate in Nucleophilic Difluoromethylation of Enolizable Ketones with Me3SiCF2H

A pentacoordinate bis(difluoromethyl)silicate anion, [Me₃Si(CF₂H)₂]^?, is observed for the first time by the activation of Me₃SiCF₂H with a nucleophilic alkali‐metal salt and 18‐crown‐6. Further study on its reactivity by tuning the countercation effect led to the discovery and development of an efficient, catalytic nucleophilic difluoromethylation of enolizable ketones with Me₃SiCF₂H by using a combination of CsF and 18‐crown‐6 as the initiation system. Mechanistic investigations demonstrate that [(18‐crown‐6)Cs]⁺[Me₃Si(CF₂H)₂]^? is a key intermediate in this catalytic reaction.     

Electrophilic (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylation of thiols with a hypervalent iodine(III)-CF2SO2Ph reagent

A hypervalent iodine(III)-CF₂SO₂Ph compound (3) has been successfully prepared with selective nucleophilic reaction using PhSO₂CF₂SiMe₃ reagent, and this previously unkown compound 3 was found to act as a new electrophilic (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylation reagent for a variety of S-nucleophiles under very mild reaction conditions.     

Fluoride-induced nucleophilic (phenylthio)difluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds with [difluoro(phenylthio)methyl]trimethylsilane (TMS-CF2SPh)

A fluoride-induced nucleophilic (phenylthio)difluoromethylation method using TMS-CF₂SPh has been achieved. This new methodology efficiently transfers “PhSCF₂” group into both enolizable and non-enolizable aldehydes and ketones to give corresponding (phenylthio)difluoromethylated alcohols in good to excellent yields. Diphenyldisulfide can also be (phenylthio)difluoromethylated into PhSCF₂SPh in high yield. The reaction with methyl benzoate, however, gives only low yield of (phenylthio)difluoromethyl phenyl ketone. The above-obtained PhSCF₂-containing alcohols can be further transformed into difluoromethyl alcohols using an oxidation-desulfonylation procedure. This new type of nucleophilic (phenylthio)difluoromethylation methodology may have other potential applications in the medicinal and agrochemical fields.     

Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis of α‐Difluoromethyl Amines from N‐tert‐Butylsulfinyl Ketimines and Difluoromethyl Phenyl Sulfone

The first highly efficient and stereoselective difluoromethylation of structurally diverse N‐tert‐butylsulfinyl ketimines has been achieved with an in situ generated PhSO₂CF₂^? anion, which provides a powerful synthetic method for the preparation of a variety of structurally diverse homochiral α‐difluoromethyl tertiary carbinamines, including α‐difluoromethyl allylic amines and α‐difluoromethyl propargylamines. The stereocontrol mode of the present diastereoselective difluoromethylation of ketimines was found to be different from that of other known fluoroalkylations of N‐tert‐butylsulfinyl aldimines, which suggests that a cyclic six‐membered transition state may be involved in the reaction.     

Stereoselective synthesis of α-difluoromethyl-β-amino alcohols via nucleophilic difluoromethylation with Me3SiCF2SO2Ph

A facile synthesis of anti-α-(difluoromethyl)-β-amino alcohols was accomplished by using a nucleophilic difluoromethylation strategy with Me₃SiCF₂SO₂Ph reagent. Good to excellent chemical yields as well as modest to good diastereoselectivity were achieved in these reactions. We found that the solvent played a crucial role in controlling the diastereoselectivity of the reaction, and an apolar solvent such as toluene helps to improve the diastereoselectivity of the reaction. The anti-α-(difluoromethyl)-β-amino alcohol 3a was demonstrated to be a useful synthetic intermediate to synthesize difluoromethylated oxazolidinone 9.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Difluoromethylation of Arylboronic Acids with Bromodifluoromethane

Although bromodifluoromethane (BrCF₂H) is a simple and readily available fluorine source, direct formation of difluoromethylated arenes with BrCF₂H has not been reported. Herein, we describe an efficient method to access difluoromethylated arenes through a nickel‐catalyzed difluoromethylation of arylboronic acids with BrCF₂H. The reaction exhibits high efficiency, good functional group tolerance and broad substrate scope, thus providing an efficient route for applications in drug discovery and development. Preliminary mechanistic studies reveal that a difluoromethyl radical is involved in the reaction.     

Decarboxylative nucleophilic difluoromethylation of aldehydes and imines

The high demand for the biologically active CF₂H-molecules has stimulated significant efforts to develop efficient methods for the installation of CF₂H functionality. We found that phenylsulfonyl difluoroacetate salt (PhSO₂CF₂CO₂^? K⁺) could directly undergo decarboxylation under warming conditions to produce active anion (PhSO₂CF₂^?) without the need of any base or additive, thus allowing for the subsequent nucleophilic (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylation of aldehydes or imines to give PhSO₂CF₂-alcohols or -amines, respectively. Interestingly, the removal of PhSO₂ group was achieved simply by elevating the reaction temperature for the conversion of aldehydes to afford CF₂H-ketones.     

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.     

Nucleophilic difluoromethylation of primary alkyl halides using difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone as a difluoromethyl anion equivalent

A facile and efficient nucleophilic difluoromethylation of primary alkyl halides has been disclosed through a novel nucleophilic substitution-reductive desulfonylation strategy, using difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone as a difluoromethyl anion ("CF(2)H(-)") equivalent.     

Photoredox Catalysis for the Synthesis of N-CF2H Compounds Using 1-((N-(difluoromethyl)-4-methylphenyl)-sulfonamido)pyridin-1-ium Trifluoromethanesulfonate

N-(difluoromethyl)amino (−NCF₂H) compounds are of great interest given their unique and underexplored physiochemical properties. The lack of structural diversity in NCF₂H compounds is likely due in part to the shortage of protocols for efficient installation. Presented herein is a new shelf-stable pyridinium reagent that enables the direct installation of the N-(difluoromethyl)sulfonamide moiety [N(Ts)CF₂H)] onto (hetero)arenes and alkenes for the diversification of aryl and alkyl NCF₂H compounds. The described protocol utilizes blue light photoredox catalysis and displays broad functional group tolerance with excellent chemoselectivity. Additional transformations and applicability towards a photoredox continuous flow protocol are also demonstrated.     

Decarboxylative Trifluoromethylating Reagent [Cu(O2CCF3)(phen)] and Difluorocarbene Precursor [Cu(phen)2][O2CCF2Cl]

This article describes the new economic decarboxylative trifluoromethylating reagent [Cu(phen)(O₂CCF₃)] ( 1 ; phen=1,10‐phenanthroline) and the efficient difluorocarbene precursor [Cu(phen)₂][O₂CCF₂Cl] ( 2 ). Treatment of copper tert‐butoxide with phen and subsequent addition of trifluoroacetic acid or chlorodifluoroacetic acid afforded air‐stable complexes 1 and 2 , respectively, which were characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The copper(I) ion in 1 is coordinated by a bidentate phen ligand, a monodentate trifluoroacetate group, and a molecule of CH₃CN in a distorted tetrahedral coordination geometry. The molecular structure of 2 adopts an ionic form that consists of a [Cu(phen)₂]⁺ cation and a chlorodifluoroacetate anion. Complex 1 reacted with a variety of aryl and heteroaryl halides to form trifluoromethyl (hetero)arenes in good yields. The corresponding Hammett plot exhibited a linear relationship and a reaction parameter (ρ)=+0.56±0.02, which indicated that the trifluoromethylation reaction proceeded via a nucleophilic reactive species. Complex 2 reacts with phenols to produce aryl difluoromethyl ethers in modest‐to‐excellent yields. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the difluoromethylation reaction proceeds by initial copper‐mediated formation of difluorocarbene and subsequent concerted addition of difluorocarbene to the phenol to form a three‐center transition state.     

Efficient Difluoromethylation of Alcohols Using TMSCF2Br as a Unique and Practical Difluorocarbene Reagent under Mild Conditions

A general method for the efficient difluoromethylation of alcohols using commercially available TMSCF₂Br (TMS=trimethylsilyl) as a unique and practical difluorocarbene source is developed. This method allows primary, secondary, and even tertiary alkyl difluoromethyl ethers to be synthesized under weakly basic or acidic conditions. The reaction mainly proceeds through the direct interaction between a neutral alcohol and difluorocarbene, which is different from the difluoromethylation of phenols. Moreover, alcohols containing other moieties that are also reactive toward difluorocarbene can be transformed divergently by using TMSCF₂Br. This research not only solves the synthetic problem of difluorocarbene‐mediated difluoromethylation of alcohols, it also provides new insights into the different reaction mechanisms of alcohol difluoromethylation and phenol difluoromethylation with difluorocarbene species.     

Synthesis of CF2H‐Containing Oxime Ethers Derivatives from ClCF2H,tert‐Butyl Nitrile and Indoles

Summaryof main observation and conclusion A new and intriguing methodology to access various O-difluoromethylation oxime compounds from CICF2H,TBN and indoles is developed under mild reaction conditions.This strategy can suppress N-difluoromethylation of indoles successfully,in which there are two different active species(:CF2and·NO)while indoles are unprotected,featuringsimple operation and radical involvement.     

Copper-Catalyzed Deaminative Difluoromethylation

The difluoromethyl group (CF₂H) is considered to be a lipophilic and metabolically stable bioisostere of an amino (NH₂) group. Therefore, methods that can rapidly convert an NH₂ group into a CF₂H group would be of great value to medicinal chemistry. We report herein an efficient Cu-catalyzed approach for the conversion of alkyl pyridinium salts, which can be readily synthesized from the corresponding alkyl amines, to their alkyl difluoromethane analogues. This method tolerates a broad range of functional groups and can be applied to the late-stage modification of complex amino-containing pharmaceuticals.     

Defluoroalkylation of sp3 C−F Bonds of Industrially Relevant Hydrofluoroolefins

A simple, one-pot procedure is reported for the selective defluoroalkylation of trifluoromethyl alkene derivatives with aldehydes and ketones. The reaction sequence allows construction of a new C−C bond in a highly selective manner from a single sp³ C−F bond of a CF₃ group in the presence of sp² C−F bonds. The scope incorporates industrially relevant fluorocarbons including HFO-1234yf and HFO-1234ze. No catalyst, additives or transition metals are required, rather the methodology relies on a recently developed boron reagent. Remarkably, the boron site of this reagent plays a dual role in the reaction sequence, being nucleophilic at boron in the C−F cleavage step (S_N2’) but electrophilic at boron en route to the carbon–carbon bond-forming step (S_E2’). The duplicitous behaviour is underpinned by a hydrogen atom migration from boron to the carbon atom of a carbene ligand.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Deaminative Difluoromethylation

The difluoromethyl group (CF₂H) is considered to be a lipophilic and metabolically stable bioisostere of an amino (NH₂) group. Therefore, methods that can rapidly convert an NH₂ group into a CF₂H group would be of great value to medicinal chemistry. We report herein an efficient Cu‐catalyzed approach for the conversion of alkyl pyridinium salts, which can be readily synthesized from the corresponding alkyl amines, to their alkyl difluoromethane analogues. This method tolerates a broad range of functional groups and can be applied to the late‐stage modification of complex amino‐containing pharmaceuticals.