Radical trifluoromethylation of Ti ate enolate: possible intervention of transformation of Ti(IV) to Ti(III) for radical termination

The radical trifluoromethylation of ketone Ti ate enolates gave α-CF₃ ketones in good yields. The use of excess amount of LDA and Ti(OⁱPr)₄ in the preparation of Ti ate enolates is the key to the efficient radical trifluoromethylation. Theoretical studies on the spin density of the Ti(IV) ate ketyl radical intermediate suggest the involvement of transformation from Ti(IV) ate ketyl radical intermediates to Ti(III) species in a radical termination step.     

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation with organoboron reagents

Potassium trialkoxy(trifluoromethyl)borates are shown to behave as convenient reagents for nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of non-enolizable aldehydes and N-tosylimines to give CF₃-substituted alcohols and N-tosylamines in good yields.     

Trifluoromethylation of Alkyl Radicals: Breakthrough and Challenges†

Trifluoromethylation of alkyl radicals is emerging as a powerful tool for C(sp³)–CF₃ bond formations. Based on the hypothesis of CF₃ group transfer from Cu(II)–CF₃ to alkyl radicals, a number of trifluoromethylation reactions have been developed, including trifluoromethylation of alkyl halides, decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of aliphatic carboxylic acids, C(sp³)–H trifluoromethylation, amino‐ and carbo‐trifluoromethylation of alkenes, etc. Challenges in this intriguing field are also discussed.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Organocatalyzed Trifluoromethylation of Ketones and Sulfonyl Fluorides by Fluoroform under a Superbase System

Fluoroform (HCF₃, HFC-23) is a side product in the manufacture of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon). Despite its attractive properties, taming HCF₃ for trifluoromethylation is quite problematic owing to its low acidity and the lability of the naked trifluoromethyl carbanion generated from HCF₃. Herein we report the organic-superbase-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of ketones and arylsulfonyl fluorides by HCF₃. The reactions were carried out by using a newly developed “superbase organocatalyst system” consisting of catalytic amounts of P₄-tBu and N(SiMe₃)₃. A series of aryl and alkyl ketones were converted into the corresponding α-trifluoromethyl carbinols in good yields under the organocatalysis conditions in THF. The superbase organocatalytic system can also be applied to the trifluoromethylation of arylsulfonyl fluorides for biologically important aryl triflones in THF or DMF in good yields. Protonated P₄-tBu, H[P₄-tBu]⁺, is suggested to be crucial for the catalytic process. This new catalytic methodology using HCF₃ is expected to expand the range of synthetic applications of trifluoromethylation.     

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.     

Visible-light mediated trifluoromethylation of p-quinone methides by 1,6-conjugate addition using pyrylium salt as organic photocatalyst

A transition metal free visible light mediated organo photoredox catalyzed trifluoromethylation of p-quinone methides (p-QMs) to construct fluoro-analogs of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is reported using a bench stable, inexpensive Langlois reagent as a trifluoromethyl radical source. This protocol could generate a benzylic C(sp³)-CF₃ bond with excellent yield under mild reaction conditions using 1,6-conjugate addition/aromatization of trifluoromethyl radical in the absence of any external additives. Further, we demonstrate di-trifluoromethylation and gram scale synthesis of this reaction.     

Enantioselective trifluoromethylation of aromatic aldehydes catalyzed by combinatorial catalysts

A new combinatorial catalyst system containing the disodium (R)-binaphtholate prepared in situ and a chiral quaternary ammonium salt was developed for enantioselective trifluoromethylation of aromatic aldehydes in up to 71% ee. A possible intermediate for the binaphtholate activation of the TMSCF₃ and a catalytic cycle were proposed based on the experiments.     

Silver‐Mediated Oxidative Trifluoromethylation of Phenols: Direct Synthesis of Aryl Trifluoromethyl Ethers

Aryl trifluoromethyl ethers (ArOCF₃) are prevalent in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials. However, methods for the general and efficient synthesis of these compounds are extremely underdeveloped and limited. Herein, we describe a highly efficient and general procedure for the direct O‐trifluoromethylation of unprotected phenols through a silver‐mediated cross‐coupling reaction using CF₃SiMe₃ as the CF₃ source and exogenous oxidants. This novel oxidative trifluoromethylation provides access to a wide range of aryl trifluoromethyl ethers from simple phenols. The mild process was also applied to the late‐stage trifluoromethylation of a medicinally relevant compound.     

Trifluoromethylation of Allenes: An Expedient Access to α-Trifluoromethylated Enones at Room Temperature

A silver(I) catalyzed regioselective trifluoromethylation of allenes using Langlois's salt (NaOSOCF₃) is demonstrated. This transformation enables direct expedient access to α-trifluoromethylated acroleins, which are valuable synthons for a number of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals containing vinyl-CF₃ moieties. Versatility of this trifluoromethylation method has been established with good yield and excellent regioselectivity. Preliminary experiments and computational studies were carried out to elucidate the mechanistic insight of this protocol.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Transition-metal-free,visible-light-mediated regioselective C–H trifluoromethylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A transition-metal-free, visible-light-induced trifluoromethylation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines has been developed at mild conditions by employing cheap and commercially available anthraquinone-2-carboxylic acid (AQN-2-CO₂H) as the photo-organocatalyst, and Langlois reagent as the trifluoromethylating reagent. A series of 3-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives with broad functionalities could be conveniently and efficiently obtained by direct regioselective functionalization.     

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.     

Structure of 1,4,10,19,25,41-C70(CF3)6, isomer with unique arrangement of addends

A novel isomer of C₇₀(CF₃)₆ has been isolated by HPLC from a mixture prepared by trifluoromethylation of C₇₀ with CF₃COOAg. The X-ray structure revealed an unprecedented arrangement of CF₃ groups forming a p³mp ribbon. This result provides additional evidence of the preferable formation of trifluoromethylated fullerene molecules comprising a single continuous ribbon of edge-sharing para- and meta-C₆(CF₃)₂ hexagons.     

Copper‐Catalyzed Highly Stereoselective Trifluoromethylation and Difluoroalkylation of Secondary Propargyl Sulfonates

It is challenging to stereoselectively introduce a trifluoromethyl group (CF₃) into organic molecules. To date, only limited strategies involving direct asymmetric trifluoromethylation have been reported. Herein, we describe a new strategy for direct asymmetric trifluoromethylation through the copper‐catalyzed stereospecific trifluoromethylation of optically active secondary propargyl sulfonates. The reaction enables propargylic trifluoromethylation with high regioselectivity and stereoselectivity. The reaction could also be extended to stereospecific propargylic difluoroalkylation. Transformations of the resulting enantiomerically enriched fluoroalkylated alkynes led to a variety of chiral fluoroalkylated compounds, thus providing a useful protocol for applications in the synthesis of fluorinated complexes.     

The main and recent syntheses of the N-CF3 motif

This review provides an overview of the various synthetic pathways of the N-CF₃ group. This pattern can be generated either from fluoride ions or from electrophilic, nucleophilic, or radical trifluoromethylation. This article mainly focuses on the most recent and prominent studies.