Stepwise Degradation of Trifluoromethyl Platinum(II) Compounds

The action of moisture on the homoleptic organoplatinum(II) compound [NBu₄]₂[Pt(CF₃)₄] ( 1 ) gives rise to the carbonyl derivative [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₃(CO)] ( 2 ), which is itself moisture stable. However, treatment of compound 2 with HCl(aq) results in the formation of [NBu₄][cis‐Pt(CF₃)₂Cl(CO)] ( 3 ), which undergoes degradation of an additional CF₃ group by further treatment with HCl(aq) in large excess, affording [NBu₄][cis‐Pt(CF₃)Cl₂(CO)] ( 4 ). The carbonyl derivatives 2 – 4 are fairly stable species, in which the CO ligand, however, can be readily extruded by reaction with trimethylamine N‐oxide (ONMe₃). Thus, compound 2 reacts with ONMe₃ in the presence of a number of neutral or anionic ligands affording a series of singly or doubly charged derivatives with the general formulae [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₃(L)] [L=CNtBu ( 5 ), PPh₃ ( 6 ), P(o‐tolyl)₃ ( 7 ), tht ( 8 ; tht=tetrahydrothiophene)] and [NBu₄]₂[Pt(CF₃)₃X] [X=Cl ( 9 ), Br ( 10 ), I ( 11 )], respectively. Compound 2 also reacts with ONMe₃ and pyridin‐2‐thiol (C₅H₅NS) giving rise to the five‐membered metallacyclic derivative [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₂(CF₂NC₅H₄S‐κC,κS)] ( 12 ), which can be viewed as a difluorocarbene species stabilized by intramolecular base coordination. On the other hand, treatment of compound 3 with ONMe₃ in the presence of C₅H₅NS yields the four‐membered metallacyclic compound [NBu₄][Pt(CF₃)₂(NC₅H₄S‐κN,κS)] ( 13 ). The geometries of the metallacycles in compounds 12 and 13 are compared. In the absence of any additional ligand, compound 3 undergoes dimerization producing the dinuclear species [NBu₄]₂[{Pt(CF₃)₂}₂(μ‐Cl)₂] ( 14 ). Halide abstraction in the latter compound with AgClO₄ in THF yields the solvento compound cis‐[Pt(CF₃)₂(thf)₂] ( 15 ). The highly labile character of the THF ligands in compound 15 makes this species a convenient synthon of the “cis‐Pt(CF₃)₂” unit.     

Gold(I) and Gold(III) Trifluoromethyl Derivatives

Trifluoromethylation of AuCl₃ by using the Me₃SiCF₃/CsF system in THF and in the presence of [PPh₄]Br proceeds with partial reduction, yielding a mixture of [PPh₄][Au^I(CF₃)₂] ( 1′ ) and [PPh₄][Au^III(CF₃)₄] ( 2′ ) that can be adequately separated. An efficient method for the high‐yield synthesis of 1′ is also described. The molecular geometries of the homoleptic anions [Au^I(CF₃)₂]^? and [Au^III(CF₃)₄]^? in their salts 1′ and [NBu₄][Au^III(CF₃)₄] ( 2 ) have been established by X‐ray diffraction methods. Compound 1′ oxidatively adds halogens, X₂, furnishing [PPh₄][Au^III(CF₃)₂X₂] (X=Cl ( 3 ), Br ( 4 ), I ( 5 )), which are assigned a trans stereochemistry. Attempts to activate C? F bonds in the gold(III) derivative 2′ by reaction with Lewis acids under different conditions either failed or only gave complex mixtures. On the other hand, treatment of the gold(I) derivative 1′ with BF₃?OEt₂ under mild conditions cleanly afforded the carbonyl derivative [Au^I(CF₃)(CO)] ( 6 ), which can be isolated as an extremely moisture‐sensitive light yellow crystalline solid. In the solid state, each linear F₃C‐Au‐CO molecule weakly interacts with three symmetry‐related neighbors yielding an extended 3D network of aurophilic interactions (Au???Au=345.9(1) pm). The high $\tilde \nu $ _CO value (2194 cm^?1 in the solid state and 2180 cm^?1 in CH₂Cl₂ solution) denotes that CO is acting as a mainly σ‐donor ligand and confirms the role of the CF₃ group as an electron‐withdrawing ligand in organometallic chemistry. Compound 6 can be considered as a convenient synthon of the “Au^I(CF₃)” fragment, as it reacts with a number of neutral ligands L, giving rise to the corresponding [Au^I(CF₃)(L)] compounds (L=CNtBu ( 7 ), NCMe ( 8 ), py ( 9 ), tht ( 10 )).     

Trifluoromethyl imidazoles

Some imidazole derivatives with trifluoromethyl substituents have been made, as part of a programme on the synthesis of fluorine-containing annyti-cancer agents. This work is a joint project between ourselves and Professor A.B. Foster's group at the Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Cancer Hospital, London. Imidazole carboxylic acids have been treated with sulphur tetrafluoride to give 2-trifluoromethyl-, 2,4-bis(trifluoromethyl)-, and 2,4,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)-imidazole. Some reactions of these trifluoromethyl derivatives have been studied. Ranges of N-substituted derivatives have been synthesised using the imidazole silver salts and the appropriate alkyl halide derivative. Hydrolytic stabilities of the CF₃ groups in the patent imidazoles have been studied.The 2-trifluoromethyl derivative is the least stable hydrolytically.     

4‐(Trifluoromethyl)benzonitrile

4‐(Tri­fluoro­methyl)­benzo­nitrile, C₈H₄F₃N, at 123 K contains mol­ecules linked together through one C—H?F bond and two C—H?N hydrogen bonds into sheets that are further crosslinked to form a dense two‐dimensional network without π?π ring interactions. The aromatic ring is slightly deformed due to the two para‐related electronegative groups.     

Ring‐Opening Lithiation–Borylation of 2‐Trifluoromethyl Oxirane: A Route to Versatile Tertiary Trifluoromethyl Boronic Esters

Stereogenic trifluoromethyl‐substituted carbon centers are highly sought‐after moieties in pharmaceutical and agrochemical discovery. Here, we show that lithiation–borylation reactions of 2‐trifluoromethyl oxirane give densely functionalized and highly versatile trifluoromethyl‐substituted α‐tertiary boronic esters. The intermediate boronate complexes undergo the desired 1,2‐rearrangement of the carbon‐based group with complete retentive stereospecificity, a process that was only observed in non‐polar solvents in the presence of TESOTf. Although the trifluoromethyl group adversely affects subsequent transformations of the α‐boryl group, Zweifel olefinations provide trifluoromethyl‐bearing quaternary stereocenters substituted with alkenes, alkynes and ketones.     

The Trifluoromethyl Anion

First evidence for the existence of free trifluoromethyl anion CF₃⁻ has been obtained. The 3D‐caged potassium cation in [K(crypt‐222)]⁺ is inaccessible to CF₃⁻, thus rendering it uncoordinated (“naked”). Ionic [K(crypt‐222)]⁺ CF₃⁻ has been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, solution NMR spectroscopy, DFT calculations, and reactivity toward electrophiles.     

The Trifluoromethyl Anion

First evidence for the existence of free trifluoromethyl anion CF₃^? has been obtained. The 3D‐caged potassium cation in [K(crypt‐222)]⁺ is inaccessible to CF₃^?, thus rendering it uncoordinated (“naked”). Ionic [K(crypt‐222)]⁺ CF₃^? has been characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, solution NMR spectroscopy, DFT calculations, and reactivity toward electrophiles.     

N‐Trifluoromethyl Hydrazines,Indoles and Their Derivatives

Reported herein is the first efficient strategy to synthesize a broad range of unsymmetrical N‐CF₃ hydrazines, which served as platform to unlock numerous currently inaccessible derivatives, such as tri‐ and tetra‐substituted N‐CF₃ hydrazines, hydrazones, sulfonyl hydrazines, and valuable N‐CF₃ indoles. These compounds proved to be remarkably robust, being compatible with acids, bases, and a wide range of synthetic manipulations. The feasibility of RN(CF₃)‐NH₂ to function as a directing group in C?H functionalization is also showcased.     

Trifluoromethyl Derivatives of Benzooxatellurole

Replacement of the iodine atom in an iodine (III) CF₃‐transfer reagent with a Te‐aryl moiety was accomplished in a three‐step synthetic sequence. Three compounds of this type have been prepared, two of which were characterized by X‐ray diffraction. Single crystal structures were also obtained for three related Te(IV) compounds unreported so far ( 4a , 4b , 6b ). Comparison with the iodine (III) analogues indicate a large degree of structural similarity, however these species display an interesting decomposition pathway under thermal conditions. In addition to the expected Te?CF₃ bond cleavage, C?F bond cleavage is also observed, unlike in the case of iodine (III) compounds.     

Trifluoromethyl Sulfoxides: Reagents for Metal‐Free C−H Trifluoromethylthiolation

Trifluoromethyl sulfoxides are a new class of trifluoromethylthiolating reagent. The sulfoxides engage in metal‐free C?H trifluoromethylthiolation with a range of (hetero)arenes. The method is also applicable to the functionalization of important compound classes, such as ligand derivatives and polyaromatics, and in the late‐stage trifluoromethylthiolation of medicines and agrochemicals. The isolation and characterization of a sulfonium salt intermediate supports an interrupted Pummerer reaction mechanism.     

Enantioselective Organocatalytic Reduction of β‐Trifluoromethyl Nitroalkenes: An Efficient Strategy for the Synthesis of Chiral β‐Trifluoromethyl Amines

An efficient organocatalytic stereoselective reduction of β‐trifluoromethyl‐substituted nitroalkenes, mediated by 3,5‐dicarboxylic ester‐dihydropyridines (Hantzsch ester type), has been successfully developed. A multifunctional thiourea‐based (S)‐valine derivative was found to be the catalyst of choice, promoting the reaction in up to 97 % ee. The methodology has been applied to a wide variety of substrates, leading to the formation of differently substituted precursors of enantiomerically enriched β‐trifluoromethyl amines. The mechanism of the reaction and the mode of action of the metal‐free catalytic species were computationally investigated; on the basis of DFT transition‐state (TS) analysis, a model of stereoselection was also proposed.     

Reduction of Aryl Trifluoromethyl Oximes

Borane-tetrahydrofuran complex reduces trifluoromethyl oximes to trifluoromethyl hydroxylamines in good yields.