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.     

Reactions of quadricyclane with fluorinated nitrogen-containing compounds. Synthesis of 3-aza-4-perfluoroalkyl-tricyclo[4.2.1.0]non-3,7-dienes

The cycloaddition reactions of quadricyclane (1) and polyfluorinated imines and nitriles were studied. Both (CF₃)₂CNH and (CF₃)₂CN(2-FC₆H₄) were found to have low reactivity towards 1, giving the corresponding [2 + 2 + 2] cycloadducts in a low yield. C₂F₅NCFCF₃ however, reacts with 1 rapidly, giving a mixture of two isomeric cycloadducts in a high yield. Perfluoroalkyl nitriles R_fCN (R_f = CF₃, C₂F₅, n-C₃F₇) were found to have surprisingly high reactivity to 1 producing exo-3-aza-4-(fluoroalkyl)-tricyclo[4.2.1.0^2,5]non-3,7-dienes in 56-81% yields at elevated temperature. Exo-3-aza-4-(perfluoroalkyl)-tricyclo[4.2.1.0^2,5]non-3,7-dienes rapidly react with CF₃Si(CH₃)₃ in the presence of CsF catalyst. The reaction results in addition of CF₃Si(CH₃)₃ across the CN bond of the azadienes with selective formation of only one stereoisomer of exo-3-aza-3-(trimethylsilyl)-4,4-bis(perfluoroalkyl)-tricyclo[4.2.1.0^2,5]non-7-enes. Silyl group in this compounds can be removed either by the action of tetrabutylammonium fluoride hydrate, leading to the formation of the corresponding amine after hydrolysis, or by reaction with HCl resulting in the formation of the corresponding amine hydrochloride.     

Reaction of the Ruppert-Prakash reagent with perfluorosulfonic acids

A new property of Me₃SiCF₃ to undergo C-F bond activation upon interaction with perfluorosulfonic acids is described. The reaction is catalyzed by titanium tetrachloride and affords difluoromethyl perfluorosulfonates in good yields.