Pentafluoroethylation of Carbonyl Compounds by HFC-125 via the Encapsulation of the K Cation with Glymes.

A simple protocol to overcome the explosive pentafluoroethylation of carbonyl compounds by HFC-125 is described. The use of potassium (K) bases with triglyme or tetraglyme as a solvent safely yields the pentafluoroethylation products in good to high yields. The experimental results suggest that an encapsulation of the K cation by glymes as K(glyme)2 inhibits the contact between the K cation and the reactive anionic pentafluoroethyl counterion, preventing their transformation into KF and explosive tetrafluoroethylene (TFE). The generation of sterically demanding [K(G3)2]+ and [K(G4)2]+ is an effective way as an unstable pentafluoroethyl anion reservoir.

Pauson-Khand reaction of fluorinated compounds.

The Pauson-Khand reaction (PKR) is one of the key methods for the construction of cyclopentenone derivatives, which can in turn undergo diverse chemical transformations to yield more complex biologically active molecules. Despite the increasing availability of fluorinated building blocks and methodologies to incorporate fluorine in compounds with biological interest, there have been few significant advances focused on the fluoro-Pauson-Khand reaction, both in the inter- and intramolecular versions. Furthermore, the use of vinyl fluorides as olefinic counterparts had been completely overlooked. In this review, we collect the advances both on the stoichiometric and catalytic intermolecular and intramolecular fluoro-Pauson-Khand reaction, with special attention to the PKR of enynes containing a fluoride moiety.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of Enantioenriched Trifluoromethylated Ethylenediamines and Isoindolines Containing Two Stereogenic Carbon Centers by Nucleophilic Trifluoromethylation Using HFC-23.

Fluoroform, HFC-23, is an industrial byproduct from the synthesis of polytetrafluoroethylene and is a vastly underused resource; however, its physicochemical properties have hindered progress toward synthetic uses. Herein, we describe the use of HFC-23 as a cheap trifluoromethylating agent in two reactions for the highly diastereoselective synthesis of medicinally attractive chiral amines with two stereogenic carbon centers: a base-dependent, stereodivergent nucleophilic addition to synthesize enantioenriched vicinal diamines and a tandem nucleophilic addition/aza-Michael sequence toward enantioenriched isoindolines.

Nucleic acid recognition and antiviral activity of 1,4-substituted terphenyl compounds mimicking all faces of the HIV-1 Rev protein positively-charged α-helix.

Small synthetic molecules mimicking the three-dimensional structure of α-helices may find applications as inhibitors of therapeutically relevant protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions. However, the design and use of multi-facial helix mimetics remains in its infancy. Here we describe the synthesis and application of novel bilaterally substituted p-terphenyl compounds containing positively-charged aminoalkyl groups in relative 1,4 positions across the aromatic scaffold. These compounds were specifically designed to mimic all faces of the arginine-rich α-helix of the HIV-1 protein Rev, which forms deeply embedded RNA complexes and plays key roles in the virus replication cycle. Two of these molecules recognized the Rev site in the viral RNA and inhibited the formation of the RRE-Rev ribonucleoprotein complex, a currently unexploited target in HIV chemotherapy. Cellular assays revealed that the most active compounds blocked HIV-1 replication with little toxicity, and likely exerted this effect through a multi-target mechanism involving inhibition of viral LTR promoter-dependent transcription and Rev function. Further development of this scaffold may open new avenues for targeting nucleic acids and may complement current HIV therapies, none of which involve inhibitors interfering with the gene regulation processes of the virus.

The Fluoro-Pauson-Khand Reaction in the Synthesis of Enantioenriched Nitrogenated Bicycles Bearing a Quaternary C-F Stereogenic Center.

A variety of enantioenriched fluorinated 6H-cyclopenta[c]pyridin-6-one bicycles, a scaffold present in several classes of monoterpenic alkaloids with varied biological activity, were synthesized in just five steps from simple aldehyde starting materials. The synthesis presented wide functional group tolerance and moderate to high yields and diastereoselectivities and could be carried out on a gram scale. These products were suitable for further transformations, such as hydrogenation and deprotection of the tert-butylsulfonyl protecting group.

Fluorine-Containing Drugs Approved by the FDA in 2018.

Over the last two decades, fluorine substitution has become one of the essential structural traits in modern pharmaceuticals. Thus, about half of the most successful drugs (blockbuster drugs) contain fluorine atoms. In this review, we profile 17 fluorine-containing drugs approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) in 2018. The newly approved pharmaceuticals feature several types of aromatic F and CF3 , as well as aliphatic (CF2 ) substitution, offering advances in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer, HIV, malarial and smallpox infections.

Copper-Catalyzed Regioselective Synthesis of (E)-ß-Fluorovinyl Sulfones.

Organofluorine compounds are finding increasing application in a variety of fields such as pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and material sciences. However, given the scarcity of fluorine-containing natural products, advancement in this area depends almost entirely on the development of new synthetic methodologies. In this article, we present the synthesis of a series of previously undescribed (E)-ß-fluorovinyl sulfones via a simple copper-catalyzed addition of hydrogen fluoride to alkynyl sulfone starting materials in varying yields and E/Z selectivities. The hydrogenation of these products was also explored and compared with the hydrogenation of the related Z isomers. These new products may find interesting applications, given the versatility of vinyl sulfones in chemical synthesis and the unique properties of vinyl fluorides in biological settings.

Recent advances in the synthesis of functionalised monofluorinated compounds.

Over the past few years, we have tackled the synthesis of interesting monofluorinated organic molecules, such as: dihydronaphthalene derivatives, ß-fluoro sulfones and related carbonyl compounds, fluorohydrins and allylic alcohols. Overall, a wide range of modern synthetic techniques are covered in this feature article including transition-metal, photo- and organocatalysis, nucleophilic and electrophilic fluorinations, chiral auxiliaries and enantioselective catalysis.

Metal-Free and User-Friendly Regioselective Hydroxyfluorination of Olefins.

A simple, user-friendly, metal-free protocol for the regioselective anti-Markovnikov hydrofluorination of olefins using readily available and inexpensive reagents has been developed. This new approach displays a broader scope than previously reported methodologies and has been applied to the late-stage fluorination of a complex molecule, giving rise to a fluorosteroid derivative. The stereochemistry of the process has also been studied in some detail.

Asymmetric Allylation/RCM-Mediated Synthesis of Fluorinated Benzo-Fused Bicyclic Homoallylic Amines As Dihydronaphthalene Derivatives.

Enantiomerically enriched fluorinated benzo-fused bicyclic homoallylic amines have been synthesized through an asymmetric allylation/ring closing metathesis (RCM) sequence. This sequence has been carried out using α-trifluoromethylstyrene derivatives as key intermediates, synthesized by microwave radiation. The great deactivating effect exerted by such substituents has been brought to light by a comparative study.

Asymmetric Synthesis of Monofluorinated 1-Amino-1,2-dihydronaphthalene and 1,3-Amino Alcohol Derivatives.

Enantioenriched 1-amino-4-fluoro-1,2-dihydronaphthalene derivatives are accessed via two complementary synthetic strategies. The careful optimization of the reaction conditions required for the elimination step in one route has allowed both the identification of an anchimerically assisted reaction pathway and, more importantly, access to a divergent reaction pathway toward fluorinated 1,3-amino alcohols from a common intermediate just by adjusting the number of equivalents of base used.