Fluorinated Isocyanates and Their Derivatives as Intermediates for Biologically Active Compounds

Fluorinated aromatic isocyanates are valuable intermediates for the production of herbicides and insecticides. Unexpected rearrangements during the synthesis of 2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl isocyanates provide an entry to N-trifluoromethylaminobenzoyl fluorides, a novel class of compounds having fungicidal properties. Carbamoyl fluorides, the products of HF addition to isocyanates, undergo ready sulfenylation. Use of these intermediates for the synthesis of N-sulfenylcarbamate insecticides led to the discovery of the new principle of detoxification of carbamates by sulfenylation.