Fluorine-containing substituents: metabolism of the α,α-difluoroethyl thioether motif.

We report the metabolism of the recently introduced α,α-difluoroethyl thioether motif to explore further its potential as a substituent for bioactives discovery chemistry. Incubation of two aryl-SCF2CH3 ethers with the model yeast organism Cunninghamella elegans, indicates that the sulfur of the thioether is rapidly converted to the corresponding sulfoxide, and then significantly more slowly to the sulfone. When the substrate was (p-OMe)PhSCF2CH3, then the resultant (demethylated) phenol sulfoxide had an enantiomeric excess of 60%, and when the substrate was the ß-substituted-SCF2CH3 naphthalene, then the enantiomeric excess of the resultant sulfoxide was 54%. There was no evidence of defluorination, unlike the corresponding oxygen ether (p-OMe)PhOCF2CH3, which was converted to the (demethylated) phenol acetate ester during C. elegans incubation. We conclude that the aryl-S-CF2CH3 motif is metabolised in a similar manner to aryl-SCF3, a motif that is being widely explored in discovery chemistry. It is however, significantly less lipophilic than aryl-SCF3 which may offer a practical advantage in tuning overall pharmacokinetic profiles of molecules in development.

Synthesis of aryl α,α-difluoroethyl thioethers a novel structure motif in organic chemistry, and extending to aryl α,α-difluoro oxyethers.

A method for the preparation of aryl α,α-difluoroethyl thioethers (ArSCF2CH3) is reported and the synthesis approach is extended to aryl α,α-difluoroethyl oxygen ethers. Selected building blocks are further elaborated in cross-coupling reactions and are incorporated into analogues of established trifluoromethyl ether drugs. Conformations are explored and log P studies of these motifs indicate that they are significantly more polar than their trifluoromethyl ether analogues rendering them attractive for bioactives discovery.

Photoredox-catalyzed oxytrifluoromethylation of allenes: stereoselective synthesis of 2-trifluoromethylated allyl acetates.

We have developed novel oxytrifluoromethylation of aryl-substituted allenes by photoredox catalysis. The present photocatalytic system allows direct and stereoselective synthesis of 2-CF3-allyl acetates bearing tetrasubstituted CF3-alkene scaffolds in a single operation. The obtained CF3-allyl acetates can be applied to further functionalization as CF3-containing building blocks.

Oxydifluoromethylation of Alkenes by Photoredox Catalysis: Simple Synthesis of CF2H-Containing Alcohols.

We have developed a novel and simple protocol for the direct incorporation of a difluoromethyl (CF2 H) group into alkenes by visible-light-driven photoredox catalysis. The use of fac-[Ir(ppy)3] (ppy=2-pyridylphenyl) photocatalyst and shelf-stable Hu's reagent, N-tosyl-S-difluoromethyl-S-phenylsulfoximine, as a CF2 H source is the key to success. The well-designed photoredox system achieves synthesis of not only ß-CF2 H-substituted alcohols but also ethers and an ester from alkenes through solvolytic processes. The present method allows a single-step and regioselective formation of C(sp(3))-CF2 H and C(sp(3))-O bonds from C=C moiety in alkenes, such as hydroxydifluoromethylation, regardless of terminal or internal alkenes. Moreover, this methodology tolerates a variety of functional groups.

Photoredox-Catalyzed Stereoselective Conversion of Alkynes into Tetrasubstituted Trifluoromethylated Alkenes.

A regio- and stereoselective synthesis of trifluoromethylated alkenes bearing four different substituents has been developed. Stereocontrolled sulfonyloxytrifluoromethylation of unsymmetric internal alkynes with an electrophilic CF3 reagent, namely the triflate salt of the Yagupol'skii-Umemoto reagent, in the presence of an Ir photoredox catalyst under visible-light irradiation afforded trifluoromethylalkenyl triflates with well-predictable stereochemistry resulting from anti addition of the trifluoromethyl and triflate groups. Subsequent palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings led to tetrasubstituted trifluoromethylated alkenes in a highly stereoselective manner. The present method is the first example of a facile one-pot synthesis of tetrasubstituted trifluoromethylated alkenes from simple alkynes.

Direct C-H trifluoromethylation of di- and trisubstituted alkenes by photoredox catalysis.

BACKGROUND: Trifluoromethylated alkene scaffolds are known as useful structural motifs in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals as well as functional organic materials. But reported synthetic methods usually require multiple synthetic steps and/or exhibit limitation with respect to access to tri- and tetrasubstituted CF3-alkenes. Thus development of new methodologies for facile construction of Calkenyl-CF3 bonds is highly demanded. RESULTS: The photoredox reaction of alkenes with 5-(trifluoromethyl)dibenzo[b,d]thiophenium tetrafluoroborate, Umemoto's reagent, as a CF3 source in the presence of [Ru(bpy)3](2+) catalyst (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) under visible light irradiation without any additive afforded CF3-substituted alkenes via direct Calkenyl-H trifluoromethylation. 1,1-Di- and trisubstituted alkenes were applicable to this photocatalytic system, providing the corresponding multisubstituted CF3-alkenes. In addition, use of an excess amount of the CF3 source induced double C-H trifluoromethylation to afford geminal bis(trifluoromethyl)alkenes. CONCLUSION: A range of multisubstituted CF3-alkenes are easily accessible by photoredox-catalyzed direct C-H trifluoromethylation of alkenes under mild reaction conditions. In particular, trifluoromethylation of triphenylethene derivatives, from which synthetically valuable tetrasubstituted CF3-alkenes are obtained, have never been reported so far. Remarkably, the present facile and straightforward protocol is extended to double trifluoromethylation of alkenes.

Homogeneous Pd-catalyzed transformation of terminal alkenes into primary allylic alcohols and derivatives.

Synthesis of primary alcohols from terminal alkenes is an important process in both bulk and fine chemical syntheses. Herein, a homogeneous Pd-complex-catalyzed transformation of terminal alkenes into primary allylic alcohols, by using 5 mol % [Pd(PPh3)4] as a catalyst, and H2O, CO2, and quinone derivatives as reagents, is reported. When alcohols were used instead of H2O, allylic ethers were obtained. A proposed mechanism includes the addition of oxygen nucleophiles at the less-hindered terminal position of π-allyl Pd intermediates.

Combining photoredox-catalyzed trifluoromethylation and oxidation with DMSO: facile synthesis of α-trifluoromethylated ketones from aromatic alkenes.

Trifluoromethylated ketones are useful building blocks for organic compounds with a trifluoromethyl group. A new and facile synthesis of ketones with a trifluoromethyl substituent in the α-position proceeds through a one-pot photoredox-catalyzed trifluoromethylation-oxidation sequence of aromatic alkenes. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) serves as a key and mild oxidant under these photocatalytic conditions. Furthermore, an iridium photocatalyst, fac[Ir(ppy)3 ] (ppy=2-phenylpyridine), turned out to be crucial for the present photoredox process.

Highly regio- and diastereoselective synthesis of CF3-substituted lactones via photoredox-catalyzed carbolactonization of alkenoic acids.

Trifluoromethylative lactonization of both terminal and internal alkenoic acids by photoredox catalysis has been developed. The use of a Ru photocatalyst and Umemoto's reagent as a CF3 source is key in the present carbolactonization. This is the first example of a highly endo- and diastereoselective synthesis of CF3-substituted five-, six-, and seven-membered ring lactones from internal alkenoic acids.