Comprehensive Study and Development of a Metal-Free and Mild Nucleophilic Trifluoromethoxylation.

Among the general interest in fluorinated compounds, trifluoromethoxylated molecules play a specific role. However, despite this interest, the development of efficient reagents to perform trifluoromethoxylation reactions remains a challenge. Here, 2,4-dinitro-trifluoromethoxybenzene (DNTFB) is used as a trifluoromethoxylating reagent to perform nucleophilic substitution under mild metal-free conditions with different leaving groups, including direct dehydroxytrifluoromethoxylation. A mechanistic study rationalized the reaction and subsequently proposed only three reaction conditions, depending on the reactivity of the starting substrates.

Ketenimines as Intermediates To Access Difluoromethoxylated Scaffolds.

We report herein the in situ generation of difluoromethoxylated ketenimines. This novel intermediate is readily obtained from the corresponding oxime through a Beckmann rearrangement. The reactivity potential of this species is demonstrated as it easily undergoes addition of various nucleophiles, with a great modularity of the starting oxime. The broad applicability of this transformation leads to a chemical library of original molecules bearing -OCHF2, an Emergent Fluorinated Group (EFG).

Study of Carbamoyl Fluoride: Synthesis, Properties and Applications.

Carbamoyl fluoride is a fluorinated group that, to this date, remains underexplored, probably due to the lack of data concerning its properties. In this paper, a study of carbamoyl fluoride is presented. Stability studies, in particular under physiological conditions, and lipophilicity measurement were performed. A new easy, safe, inexpensive, and metal-free synthesis method is also described. Finally, a potential use in radiochemistry through a 18 F/19 F isotopic exchange is demonstrated.

Study of a Stable "Trifluoromethoxide Anion Solution" Arising from 2,4-Dinitro-Trifluoromethoxybenzene.

Despite recent advances, trifluoromethoxylation remains a challenging reaction. Here we describe an efficient trifluoromethoxylative substitution, using an inexpensive and easy-to-handle reagent. By mixing DMAP with a slight excess of 1,4-dinitro-trifluoromethoxybenzene (DNTFB), a stable solution of trifluoromethoxide anion is obtained and can be used to perform a SN 2 reaction without any silver additives. A precise study of the properties and behavior of this unusual stable solution of CF3 O- species is also performed.

Synthetic Approaches to Trifluoromethoxy-Substituted Compounds.

Because of the unique properties of the trifluoromethoxy group, molecules bearing this moiety will find applications in various fields, particularly in the life sciences. However, despite the great interest in this functional group, only a small number of trifluoromethoxylated molecules are currently synthetically accessible. Over the last few years, several innovative and promising strategies for the synthesis of trifluoromethoxylated compounds have been described. This Minireview discusses these existing methods with a particular focus on more recent advances.

Efficient preparation of new fluorinated lithium and ammonium sulfonimides.

An efficient preparation of new fluorinated lithium and ammonium sulfonimides, from the corresponding sulfonyl fluorides, is reported. These sulfonyl fluorides are reacted with benzylamine, then triflated. Due to the high leaving ability of fluorinated sulfonimides, the formed N-benzylsulfonimides are simply debenzylated with an alcohol. Finally, the intermediate oxonium sulfonimides are neutralized, in situ, by various bases. The obtained sulfonimides are potential electrolytes for lithium batteries or fuel cells.

An efficient preparation of new sulfonyl fluorides and lithium sulfonates.

An efficient preparation of several polyfluoroalkanesulfonyl fluorides is reported. This method, based on the synthesis of polyfluoroalkyl trimethyl silanes (precursors of polyfluoroalkylsulfinates) as intermediates, allows the successive transformations to be carried out in one pot. Moreover, these sulfonyl fluorides can be obtained from the corresponding sulfinates by electrophilic fluorination. This original approach avoids isolation and purification of some thermally or hydrolytically unstable intermediates. A series of new sulfonyl fluorides have been thus prepared from halogenodifluoromethylated precursors RCF2X (X = F, Br; R = ArC(O), ArS(O)n(CF2)m; n = 0, 1, 2; m = 1, 2) and have been transformed into the corresponding lithium sulfonates, which have potential applications as electrolytes for lithium batteries.