Cu(II)-Catalyzed Unsymmetrical Dioxidation of gem-Difluoroalkenes to Generate α,α-Difluorinated-α-phenoxyketones.

A Cu-based catalyst system convergently couples gem-difluoroalkenes with phenols under aerobic conditions to deliver α,α-difluorinated-α-phenoxyketones, an unstudied hybrid fluorinated functional group. Composed of α,α-difluorinated ketone and α,α-difluorinated ether moieties, these compounds have rarely been reported as a synthetic intermediate. Computational predictions and later experimental corroboration suggest that the phenoxy-substituted fluorinated ketone's sp3-hybridized hydrate form is energetically favored relative to the respective nonether variant and that perturbation of the electronic character of the ketone can further encourage the formation of the hydrate. The more facile conversion between ketone and hydrate forms suggests that analogues should readily covalently inhibit proteases and other enzymes. Further functionalization of the ketone group enables access to other useful fluorinated functional groups.

Recent Advances in Transition Metal-Catalyzed Functionalization of gem-Difluoroalkenes.

gem-Difluorinated alkenes are readily accessible building blocks that can undergo functionalization to provide a broad spectrum of fluorinated and non-fluorinated products. Herein, we review recent (since 2017) transition metal-catalyzed transformations of these specialized alkenes and summarize general reactivity patterns of these reactions. Many transition metal-catalyzed reactions undergo net C-F bond functionalization reactions to deliver monofluorinated products. These reactions typically proceed through ß-fluoro alkylmetal intermediates that readily eliminate a ß-fluoride to deliver monofluoroalkene products. A second series of reactions exploit coinage metal fluorides to add F- to the gem-difluorinated alkene, and further functionalization delivers trifluoromethyl-containing products. In stark contrast, few transition metal-catalyzed reactions proceed in net "fluorine-retentive processes" to deliver difluoromethylene-based products.

Connecting remote C-H bond functionalization and decarboxylative coupling using simple amines.

Transition metal-catalysed C-H functionalization and decarboxylative coupling are two of the most notable synthetic strategies developed in the past 30 years. Here, we connect these two reaction pathways using bases and a simple Pd-based catalyst system to promote a para-selective C-H functionalization reaction from benzylic electrophiles. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies suggest a pathway that involves an uncommon Pd-catalysed dearomatization of the benzyl moiety followed by a base-enabled rearomatization through a formal 1,5-hydrogen migration. This reaction complements 'C-H activation' strategies that convert inert C-H bonds into C-metal bonds prior to C-C bond formation. Instead, this reaction exploits an inverted sequence and promotes C-C bond formation prior to deprotonation. These studies provide an opportunity to develop general para-selective C-H functionalization reactions from benzylic electrophiles and show how new reactive modalities may be accessed with careful control of the reaction conditions.

Cross-Dehydrogenating Coupling of Aldehydes with Amines/R-OTBS Ethers by Visible-Light Photoredox Catalysis: Synthesis of Amides, Esters, and Ureas.

A straightforward synthesis of amides, ureas, and esters is reported by visible-light cross-dehydrogenating coupling (CDC) of aldehydes (or amine carbaldehydes) and amines/R-OTBS ethers by photoredox catalysis. The reaction is found to be general and high yielding. A plausible mechanistic pathway has been proposed for these transformations and is supported by appropriate controlled experiments.

Switching Selectivity of α-Enolic Dithioesters: One Pot Access to Functionalized 1,2- and 1,3-Dithioles.

An operationally simple cascade protocol has been developed for the construction of 1,2- and 1,3-dithiole derivatives from α-enolic dithioesters. 1,2-Dithioles are achieved by the reaction of dithioesters with elemental sulfur in the presence of InCl3 under solvent-free conditions. 1,3-Dithioles have been constructed via DABCO mediated self-coupling of dithioesters in open air enabling the formation of two new C-S bonds and one ring in a single operation in contiguous fashion. The reactions proceeded smoothly affording the desired sulfur-rich heterocycles in good to excellent yields, exhibiting gram-scale ability and broad functional group tolerance utilizing easy to handle cheap and easily available reagents. The probable mechanisms for the formation of 1,2- and 1,3-dithioles from α-enolic dithioesters have been suggested.

Metal-free Brønsted acid mediated synthesis of fully substituted thiophenes via chemo- and regioselective intramolecular cyclization of α,α'-bis(ß-oxodithioesters) at room temperature.

Metal-free para-toluenesulfonic acid mediated straightforward synthesis of hitherto unreported tetrasubstituted thiophenes has been achieved in quantitative yields by chemo- and regioselective dehydrative cyclization of α,α'-bis(ß-oxodithioesters) at room temperature. Notably, the dithioester group at the 4-position of the thiophene ring has been further transformed to a thiazoline group.

Metal-free aerobic one-pot synthesis of substituted/annulated quinolines from alcohols via indirect Friedländer annulation.

Metal-free, operationally simple, and highly efficient one-pot aerobic process for the synthesis of functionalized/annulated quinolines is devised from easily available 2-aminobenzyl alcohol/2-aminobenzophenones and alkyl/aryl alcohols for the first time. The process involves two sequential reactions, namely in situ aerial oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes/ketones followed by Friedländer annulation.

Regioselective synthesis of dihydrothiophene and thiopyran frameworks via catalyst-controlled intramolecular Cγ/Cδ-S fusion of α-allyl-ß'-oxodithioesters.

A highly efficient and atom-economic dual reaction manifold has been developed to synthesize 4H-thiopyran and 4,5-dihydrothiophene frameworks via regioselective intramolecular C-S fusion of α-allyl-ß'-oxodithioesters. The ring size of the sulfur-heterocycles has been efficiently tuned by the use of two different catalytic systems. Palladium activates the Cδ-H of the allyl termini and facilitates the intramolecular Cδ-S coupling to furnish six-membered thiopyran skeletons exclusively. Conversely, the allylic double bond of the same substrate has been activated by BF3·Et2O to promote the Cγ-S cyclization leading to the formation of a five-membered dihydrothiophene nucleus.

Lewis acid promoted construction of chromen-4-one and isoflavone scaffolds via regio- and chemoselective domino Friedel-Crafts acylation/Allan-Robinson reaction.

A facile and efficient synthesis of chromen-4-one and isoflavone frameworks is achieved by the domino C-acylation/O-acylation/aldolization sequence. This operationally simple one-pot elegant strategy provides structurally unique chromen-4-ones and isoflavones directly from phenols via concomitant formation of multiple C-C and C-O bonds in a single operation. The outcomes of the buttressing effect, substituent dependence, and catalyst and solvent specificity during the course of the Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions are demonstrated and supported by fitting experiments.

Palladium catalyzed oxidative coupling of α-enolic dithioesters: a new entry to 3,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2-dithioles via a double activation strategy.

An operationally simple, facile, and convenient one-pot straightforward method for the construction of 3,4,5-trisubstituted 1,2-dithioles has been explored and developed via palladium catalyzed self-coupling of α-enolic dithioesters for the first time. Pd(0) efficiently catalyzes the activation and cleavage of S-H and C-S bonds to achieve cascade coupling, which results in the concomitant formation of new S-S and C-C bonds. Optimization data, substrate scope, and mechanistic insights are discussed.