Synthesis and Properties of CF3(OCF3)CH‐Substituted Arenes and Alkenes†

A silver‐mediated oxidative trifluoromethylation of easily accessible α‐trifluoromethyl alcohols with TMSCF₃ was developed to access novel CF₃(OCF₃)CH‐containing compounds. Deprotonation of CF₃(OCF₃)CH‐substituted arenes afforded synthetically useful CF₃O‐substituted gem‐difluoroalkenes. Furthermore, evaluation of the lipophilicities (log P) indicated that CH(OCF₃)CF₃ is more lipophilic than the common fluorinated motifs such as CF₃, OCF₃, and SCF₃, thus rendering the CH(OCF₃)CF₃ motif appealing in drug discovery.     

Preparation and Structure of [Me3N(CF3)2BCCB(CF3)2NMe3]

Bis‐trimethylamine‐ethynyl‐di‐bis(trifluoromethyl)borane [Me₃N(CF₃)₂BCCB(CF₃)₂NMe₃] ( 1 ) has been prepared from trimethylamine‐ethynyl‐bis(trifluoromethyl)borane, [HCCB(CF₃)₂NMe₃], and dimethylamino‐bis(trifluoromethyl)borane, (CF₃)₂BNMe₂. The structure of 1 has been determined by x‐ray crystallography. In the solid state the molecule possesses crystallographic C_i symmetry. The acetylenic attachment to the boron atom is characterized by a short B–C bond length of 1.565(4) Å and an essentially linear B–C–C′ bond angle of 178.1(4)°.     

Stable and Storable N(CF3)2 Transfer Reagents

Fluorinated groups are essential for drug design, agrochemicals, and materials science. The bis(trifluoromethyl)amino group is an example of a stable group that has a high potential. While the number of molecules containing perfluoroalkyl, perfluoroalkoxy, and other fluorinated groups is steadily increasing, examples with the N(CF₃)₂ group are rare. One reason is that transfer reagents are scarce and metal-based storable reagents are unknown. Herein, a set of Cu^I and Ag^I bis(trifluoromethyl)amido complexes stabilized by N- and P-donor ligands with unprecedented stability are presented. The complexes are stable solids that can even be manipulated in air for a short time. They are bis(trifluoromethyl)amination reagents as shown by nucleophilic substitution and Sandmeyer reactions. In addition to a series of benzylbis(trifluoromethyl)amines, 2-bis(trifluoromethyl)amino acetate was obtained, which, upon hydrolysis, gives the fluorinated amino acid N,N-bis(trifluoromethyl)glycine.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling of Secondary α‐(Trifluoromethyl)benzyl Tosylates

A palladium‐catalyzed C(sp³)−C(sp²) Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling of aryl boronic acids and α‐(trifluoromethyl)benzyl tosylates is reported. A readily available, air‐stable palladium catalyst was employed to access a wide range of functionalized 1,1‐diaryl‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethanes. Enantioenriched α‐(trifluoromethyl)benzyl tosylates were found to undergo cross‐coupling to give the corresponding enantioenriched cross‐coupled products with an overall inversion in configuration. The crucial role of the CF₃ group in promoting this transformation is demonstrated by comparison with non‐fluorinated derivatives.     

Protic NNN and NCN Pincer‐Type Ruthenium Complexes Featuring (Trifluoromethyl)pyrazole Arms: Synthesis and Application to Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Formic Acid

NNN and NCN pincer‐type ruthenium(II) complexes featuring two protic pyrazol‐3‐yl arms with a trifluoromethyl (CF₃) group at the 5‐position were synthesized and structurally characterized to evaluate the impact of the substitution on the properties and catalysis. The increased Brønsted acidity by the highly electron‐withdrawing CF₃ pendants was demonstrated by protonation–deprotonation experiments. By contrast, the IR spectra of the carbonyl derivatives as well as the cyclic voltammogram indicated that the electron density of the ruthenium atom is negligibly influenced by the CF₃ group. Catalysis of these complexes in the decomposition of formic acid to dihydrogen and carbon dioxide was also examined. The NNN pincer‐type complex 1 a with the CF₃ group exhibited a higher catalytic activity than the tBu‐substituted analogue 1 b . In addition, the bis(CF₃‐pyrazolato) ammine derivative 4 catalyzed the reaction even in the absence of base additives.     

Chemical transformation of bis((perfluoroalkyl)sulfonyl)methanes and 1,1,3,3‐tetraoxopolyfluoro‐1,3‐dithiaycloalkanes

Halogenation of the potassium or silver salts of bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)methane(CF₃SO₂)₂CH₂ and its cyclo analogues (CF₂)_nSO₂‐CH₂SO₂CF₂ with N‐fluoro‐bis((trifluoromethyl)sul‐fonyl)imine (CF₃SO₂)₂NF, chlorine or bromine gave good yields of the corresponding α‐halo disulfones (CF₃SO₂)₂CHX and (CF₂)_nSO₂CHXSO₂CF₂ (X: F, Cl, Br; n = 1,2). Some chemical transformations of these fluorinated α‐halo‐disulfones are described. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 10: 147–151, 1999     

Synthesis of Three‐, Five‐, and Six‐Membered Heterocycles Derived from New β‐Amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) Alcohols

Nucleophilic trifluoromethylation of α‐imino ketones 2 , derived from arylglyoxal, with Ruppert–Prakash reagent (CF₃SiMe₃) offers a convenient access to the corresponding O‐silylated β‐imino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols. In a ‘one‐pot’ procedure, by treatment with NaBH₄, these products smoothly undergo reduction and desilylation yielding the expected β‐amino‐α‐(trifluoromethyl) alcohols 4 . The latter were used as starting materials for the synthesis of diverse trifluoromethylated heterocycles, including aziridines 5 , 1,3‐oxazolidines 8 , 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐ones 9 , 1,3,2‐oxazaphospholidine 2‐oxides 10 , 1,2,3‐oxathiazolidine 2‐oxides 11 , and morpholine‐2,3‐diones 12 . An optically active 5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐substituted 1,3‐oxazolidin‐2‐one 9g was also obtained.     

Exchange reactions between O-nitrosobis(trifluoromethyl)hydroxylamine and M(CF3)3 (M = P,As and Sb)

O-Nitrosobis(trifluoromethyl)hydroxylamine gives novel reactions with tris(trifluoromethyl)-phosphine, -arsine and -stibine to affford mainly the corresponding bis(trifluoromethyl)nitroxol derivatives. Tris(trifluoromethyl) phosphine affords (CF₃)₂NOP(O)(CF₃)₂ and (CF₃)₂NNO. Tris(trifluoromethyl) arsine also gives (CF₃)₂NNO in high yield, together with smaller amounts of (CF₃)₂NOAs(CF₃)₂, CF₃NCF₂, COF₂ and a polymeric white solid. With tris(trifluoromethyl)stibine, no oxidation nor addition reactions occurred. Instead, [(CF₃)₂NO]₃Sb and [(CF₃)NO]₂SbCF₃ were obtained in high yields. The stoichiometry of the reactions suggests that the additional amounts of bis(trifluoromethyl)nitroxyl groups bonded to antimony are derived from the trifluoromethyl groups bonded to antimony. Mechanisms to rationalise these reactions are proposed.     

Synthesis and optical properties of novel soluble and optically transparent semifluorinated poly (ether imide)s

A fluorinated diamine monomer containing flexible ether linkage and bulky trifluoromethyl substituents, namely, bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenyl) ether (a), is employed to react with nonfluorinated 1,4‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy) benzene dianhydride (3) and CF₃‐free 2,2‐bis[4‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl] propane dianhydride (4), respectively, to prepare 2 novel soluble and optically transparent semi‐fluorinated poly (ether imide)s (PEIs; 3a and 4a). Compared with the corresponding PEIs based on nonfluorinated 4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether (b) and CF₃‐free pyromellitic dianhydride (5), the novel semifluorinated PEIs 3a and 4a not only display better solubility in some organic solvents and higher optical transparency with cutoff absorption wavelength (λ₀) below 370 nm but also maintain outstanding mechanical properties and thermal stability. 3a and 4a have tensile strength beyond 80 MPa and possess glass‐transition temperatures (T_g) beyond 210°C, coupled with the temperatures of 5% weight loss (T_5%) exceeding 500°C. It is also found that 3a and 4a exhibit contact angles against water beyond 110° and water absorptions below 0.8% together with dielectric constants less than 3.2.     

Novel fluorinated polymers by radical polyaddition: Inspiration and progress

The story of the outset and the growth of radical polyaddition of bisperfluoroisopropenyl derivatives [CF₂?C(CF₃)? R? C(CF₃)? CF₂] with several organic compounds possessing carbon–hydrogen bonds is described. The reaction afforded novel fluorinated polymers bearing such organic segments in polymer main chains as 1,4‐dioxane, diethyl ether, dimethoxyethane, 18‐crown‐6, triethylamine, glutaraldehyde, and alkanes which have never been supposed as direct starting compounds for preparation of polymers. The facile method for preparation of fluorinated hybrid polymers bearing alkylsilyl groups was developed with diethoxydimethylsilane and silsesquioxanes. Taking advantage of the high reactivity of the perfluoroisopropenyl group as a radical acceptor, self‐polyaddition and cyclopolymerization were investigated. Triethysilyl perfluoroisopropenyl ether [CF₂? C(CF₃)? O? Si(C₂H₅)₃] was proved to be the most probable candidate for self‐polyaddition. Cyclopolymerization of perfluoroisopropenyl vinylacetate [CF₂?C(CF₃) OCO? CH₂CH? CH₂] was investigated to afford polymers possessing five‐membered‐ring units in main chains. The interconversion of the unstable fluorinated carbon radical and the stable hydrocarbon radical had an important role in the reaction. The radical addition reaction presented herein may be developed for preparation of a wide variety of novel fluorinated polymers and organic compounds possessing functional groups. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4101–4125, 2004     

Endohedral gadolinium-containing metallofullerenes in the trifluoromethylation reaction

An efficient method for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl derivatives of endohedral gadolinium-containing metallofullerenes was proposed. High-purity (98–99%) trifluoromethyl derivatives Gd@C₈₂(CF₃)₅ (two isomers) and Gd₂@C₈₀(CF₃) have been synthesized for the first time. They were isolated and characterized by HPLC, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1457–1462, July, 2008.     

Lewis Base-Catalyzed Formation of α-Trifluoromethyl Alcohol from CF3SiMe3 and Carbonyl-Containing Compounds

Lewis base could catalyze the formation of a-trifluoromethyl alcohol from CF3SiMe3 and carbonyl-containing compounds. It was found that the α-trifluoromethyl alcohol could also be used to promote the synthesis in basic conditions.     

Incremental Tuning Up of Fluorous Phenazine Acceptors

In a simple, one‐step direct trifluoromethylation of phenazine with CF₃I we prepared and characterized nine (poly)trifluoromethyl derivatives with up to six CF₃ groups. The electrochemical reduction potentials and gas‐phase electron affinities show a direct, strict linear relation to the number of CF₃ groups, with phenazine(CF₃)₆ reaching a record‐high electron affinity of 3.24 eV among perfluoroalkylated polyaromatics.     

Chiral Fluorinated α‐Sulfonyl Carbanions: Enantioselective Synthesis and Electrophilic Capture,Racemization Dynamics,and Structure

Enantiomerically pure triflones R¹CH(R²)SO₂CF₃ have been synthesized starting from the corresponding chiral alcohols via thiols and trifluoromethylsulfanes. Key steps of the syntheses of the sulfanes are the photochemical trifluoromethylation of the thiols with CF₃Hal (Hal=halide) or substitution of alkoxyphosphinediamines with CF₃SSCF₃. The deprotonation of RCH(Me)SO₂CF₃ (R=CH₂Ph, iHex) with nBuLi with the formation of salts [RC(Me)? SO₂CF₃]Li and their electrophilic capture both occurred with high enantioselectivities. Displacement of the SO₂CF₃ group of (S)‐MeOCH₂C(Me)(CH₂Ph)SO₂CF₃ (95 % ee) by an ethyl group through the reaction with AlEt₃ gave alkane MeOCH₂C(Me)(CH₂Ph)Et of 96 % ee. Racemization of salts [R¹C(R²)SO₂CF₃]Li follows first‐order kinetics and is mainly an enthalpic process with small negative activation entropy as revealed by polarimetry and dynamic NMR (DNMR) spectroscopy. This is in accordance with a C_α? S bond rotation as the rate‐determining step. Lithium α‐(S)‐trifluoromethyl‐ and α‐(S)‐nonafluorobutylsulfonyl carbanion salts have a much higher racemization barrier than the corresponding α‐(S)‐tert‐butylsulfonyl carbanion salts. Whereas [PhCH₂C(Me)SO₂tBu]Li/DMPU (DMPU = dimethylpropylurea) has a half‐life of racemization at ?105 °C of 2.4 h, that of [PhCH₂C(Me)SO₂CF₃]Li at ?78 °C is 30 d. DNMR spectroscopy of amides (PhCH₂)₂NSO₂CF₃ and (PhCH₂)N(Ph)SO₂CF₃ gave N? S rotational barriers that seem to be distinctly higher than those of nonfluorinated sulfonamides. NMR spectroscopy of [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂R]M (M=Li, K, NBu₄; R=CF₃, tBu) shows for both salts a confinement of the negative charge mainly to the C_α atom and a significant benzylic stabilization that is weaker in the trifluoromethylsulfonyl carbanion. According to crystal structure analyses, the carbanions of salts {[PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]Li? L }₂ ( L =2 THF, tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA)) and [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]NBu₄ have the typical chiral C_α? S conformation of α‐sulfonyl carbanions, planar C_α atoms, and short C_α? S bonds. Ab initio calculations of [MeC(Ph)SO₂tBu]^? and [MeC(Ph)SO₂CF₃]^? showed for the fluorinated carbanion stronger n_C→σ* and n_O→σ* interactions and a weaker benzylic stabilization. According to natural bond orbital (NBO) calculations of [R¹C(R²)SO₂R]^? (R=tBu, CF₃) the n_C→σ*_{S? R} interaction is much stronger for R=CF₃. Ab initio calculations gave for [MeC(Ph)SO₂tBu]Li ? 2 Me₂O an O,Li,C_α contact ion pair (CIP) and for [MeC(Ph)SO₂CF₃]Li ? 2 Me₂O an O,Li,O CIP. According to cryoscopy, [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]Li, [iHexC(Me)SO₂CF₃]Li, and [PhCH₂C(Ph)SO₂CF₃]NBu₄ predominantly form monomers in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at ?108 °C. The NMR spectroscopic data of salts [R¹(R²)SO₂R³]Li (R³=tBu, CF₃) indicate that the dominating monomeric CIPs are devoid of C_α? Li bonds.     

A Convenient,Selective Synthesis of Bis[2,4‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphane Derivatives Starting from 1,3‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene

The reaction of the sterically shielded phosphane derivative, dichlorodiethylaminophosphane, Cl₂PNEt₂, with an excess of a mixture of 2,6‐bis(trifluoromethyl) and 2,4‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl lithium gives bis[2,4‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]diethylaminophosphane, [2,4‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃]₂PNEt₂, in 72 % yield as a colourless solid, while 2,6‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl lithium remains unchanged in solution. The amino derivative crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c (a 869.2(1), b 1857.4(1), c 1357.6(1) pm, β 100.57(4)°, Z = 4). Treatment of [2,4‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃]₂PNEt₂ in CHCl₃ solution with conc. HCl allows the synthesis of [2,4‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃)]₂PCl. [2,4‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃]₂PCl reacts with H₂O in THF solution with quantitative formation of the corresponding secondary phosphane oxide. To obtain bis[2,4‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]phosphinic acid, [2,4‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃]₂P(O)OH, quantitatively, a CHCl₃ solution of [2,4‐(CF₃)₂C₆H₃]₂P(O)H, has to be stirred in an NO₂ atmosphere. The phosphinic acid crystallizes is the triclinic space group (a 754.2(1), b 927.6(2), c 1305.5(2) pm, α 85.11(2)°, β 75.45(1)°, γ 79.99(2)°, Z = 2). From the reaction of the phosphinic acid with either elemental sodium or with cyanide salts, the corresponding phosphinate salts are obtained in an almost quantitatively yield.     

Trifluoromethylated 3-(Pyrazol-1-yl)propanamide (PPA) Ligands

The new PPA ligands 3-[5-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]propanamide (CF₃MePPA; 3 ) and 3-[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]propanamide ((CF₃)₂PPA; 4 ) were synthesized by Aza-Michael addition of the specific pyrazole derivatives to acrylamide. Both products were characterized by elemental analyses, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. X-Ray structure determination of 3 revealed the presence of a one-dimensional hydrogen-bonded structure in the solid state. The ligating ability of the new ligands towards PdCl₂ was studied, showing that 3 behaves similar to Me₂PPA and reacts cleanly with PdCl₂ to afford the sparingly soluble complex PdCl₂(CF₃MePPA-κN)₂. By contrast, the donor ability of pyrazolyl group in 4 was found to be considerably reduced, thus resulting in the formation of the unusual complex PdCl₂{(CF₃)₂PPA-κN}{(CF₃)₂PPA-κO}.     

1,2‐(Bis)trifluoromethylation of Alkynes: A One‐Step Reaction to Install an Underutilized Functional Group

Modifying the electronic properties of olefins is the quintessential approach to tuning alkene reactivity. In this context, the exploration of trifluoromethyl groups as divergent electronic modifiers has not been considered. In this work, we describe a copper‐mediated 1,2‐(bis)trifluoromethylation of acetylenes to create E‐hexafluorobutenes (E‐HFBs) under blue light in a single step. The reaction proceeds with high yield and E/Z selectivity. Since the alkyne captures two trifluoromethyl groups from each molecule of bpyCu(CF₃)₃, mechanistic studies were conducted to illuminate the role of the reactants. Interestingly, E‐HFBs exhibit remarkable stability to standard olefin functionalization reactions in spite of the pendant trifluoromethyl groups. This finding has significant implications for medicine, agroscience, and materials.     

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.     

Nickel Fluorocarbene Metathesis with Fluoroalkenes

Alkene metathesis with directly fluorinated alkenes is challenging, limiting its application in the burgeoning field of fluoro‐organic chemistry. A new nickel tris(phosphite) fluoro(trifluoromethyl)carbene complex ([P₃Ni]=CFCF₃) reacts with CF₂=CF₂ (TFE) or CF₂=CH₂ (VDF) to yield both metallacyclobutane and perfluorocarbene metathesis products, [P₃Ni]=CF₂ and CR₂=CFCF₃ (R=F, H). The reaction of [P₃Ni]=CFCF₃ with trifluoroethylene also yields metathesis products, [P₃Ni]=CF₂ and cis/trans‐CFCF₃=CFH. However, unlike reactions with TFE and VDF, this reaction forms metallacyclopropanes and fluoronickel alkenyl species, resulting presumably from instability of the expected metallacyclobutanes. DFT calculations and experimental evidence established that the observed metallacyclobutanes are not intermediates in the formation of the observed metathesis products, thus highlighting a novel variant of the Chauvin mechanism enabled by the disparate four‐coordinate transition states.     

A new fluorinated anion for room-temperature ionic liquids

A new room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) consisting of the fluorinated anion bis(trifluoromethyl)-phosphinate((CF₃)₂PO₂⁻) coupled with the 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazoliuim (BMIM) cation has been synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and electrochemical means including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis, viscosity, conductivity and cyclic voltammetry measurements. Properties are compared with those of the known RTIL consisting of BMIM coupled with the bis(trifluoromethyl)-sulfonylimide (TFSI) anion.