Mechanism of Asymmetric Homologation of Alkenylboronic Acids with CF3-Diazomethane via Borotropic Rearrangement.

Density functional theory calculations have been performed to investigate the mechanism for the BINOL-catalyzed asymmetric homologation of alkenylboronic acids with CF3-diazomethane. The reaction proceeds via a chiral BINOL ester of the alkenylboronic acid substrate. The calculations reveal a complex scenario for the formation of the chiral BINOL-alkenylboronate species, which is the key intermediate in the catalytic process. The aliphatic alcohol additive plays an important role in the reaction. This study provides a rationalization of the stereoinduction step of the reaction, and the enantioselectivity is mainly attributed to the steric repulsion between the CF3 group of the diazomethane reagent and the γ-substituent of the BINOL catalyst. The complex potential energy surface obtained by the calculations is analyzed by means of microkinetic simulations.

Three-Component Approach to Densely Functionalized Trifluoromethyl Allenols by Asymmetric Organocatalysis.

We have developed a new three-component catalytic coupling reaction of alkynyl boronates, diazomethanes, and aliphatic/aromatic ketones in the presence of BINOL derivatives. The reaction proceeds with a remarkably high enantio- and diastereoselectivity (up to three contiguous stereocenters) affording tertiary CF3-allenols in a single operational step. The reaction proceeds under mild, neutral, metal-free conditions, which leads to a high level of functional group tolerance.

Catalytic Homologation-Allylboration Sequence for Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Densely Functionalized ß-Fluorohydrins with Tertiary Fluoride Stereocenters.

Homologation of trisubstituted fluoroalkenes followed by allylboration of aldehyde, ketone and imine substrates is suitable for synthesis of ß-fluorohydrin and amine products. In the presence of (R)-iodo-BINOL catalyst enantioselectivities up to 99 % can be achieved by formation of a single stereoisomer with adjacent stereocenters, of which one is a tertiary C-F center.

Asymmetric Organocatalytic Homologation: Access to Diverse Chiral Trifluoromethyl Organoboron Species.

A broad range of aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic boronic acids were successfully homologated using trifluorodiazoethane in the presence of BINOL derivatives to provide the corresponding chiral trifluoromethyl containing boronic acid derivatives in high yields and excellent enantioselectivity. The in situ conversion of the chiral transient boronic acids to the corresponding alcohols or ß-CF3 carboxylates are also demonstrated.

Sulfenofunctionalization of Chiral α-Trifluoromethyl Allylboronic Acids: Asymmetric Synthesis of SCF3 , SCF2 R, SCN and SAr Compounds.

We report herein a new method for the synthesis of densely functionalized chiral allyl SCF3 , SCF2 R, SCN and SAr species with a separate CF3 functionality. The synthetic approach is based on selenium-catalyzed sulfenofunctionalization of chiral α-CF3 allylboronic acids. The reactions proceeded with remarkably high stereo-, diastereo- and site-selectivity, based on the formation of a stable thiiranium ion followed by rapid deborylative ring opening.

Electrophilic Fluorination of Alkenes via Bora-Wagner-Meerwein Rearrangement. Access to ß-Difluoroalkyl Boronates.

The electrophilic fluorination of geminal alkyl substituted vinyl-Bmida derivatives proceeds via bora-Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement. According to DFT modelling studies this rearrangement occurs with a low activation barrier via a bora-cyclopropane shaped TS. The Bmida group has a larger migration aptitude than the alkyl moiety in the Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement of the presented electrophilic fluorination reactions.

Enantioselective Construction of Tertiary Fluoride Stereocenters by Organocatalytic Fluorocyclization.

1,1-Disubstituted styrenes with internal oxygen and nitrogen nucleophiles undergo oxidative fluorocyclization reactions with in situ generated chiral iodine(III)-catalysts. The resulting fluorinated tetrahydrofurans and pyrrolidines contain a tertiary carbon-fluorine stereocenter. Application of a new 1-naphthyllactic acid-based iodine(III)-catalyst allows the control of tertiary carbon-fluorine stereocenters with up to 96% ee. Density functional theory calculations are performed to investigate the details of the mechanism and the factors governing the stereoselectivity of the reaction.

Organocatalytic Synthesis of α-Trifluoromethyl Allylboronic Acids by Enantioselective 1,2-Borotropic Migration.

Chiral α-substituted allylboronic acids were synthesized by asymmetric homologation of alkenylboronic acids using CF3/TMS-diazomethanes in the presence of BINOL catalyst and ethanol. The chiral α-substituted allylboronic acids were reacted with aldehydes or oxidized to alcohols in situ with a high degree of chirality transfer. The oxygen-sensitive allylboronic acids can be purified via their isolated diaminonaphthalene (DanH)-protected derivatives. The highly reactive purified allylboronic acids reacted in a self-catalyzed reaction at room temperature with ketones, imines, and indoles to give congested trifluoromethylated homoallylic alcohols/amines with up to three contiguous stereocenters.

Mechanisms of Formation and Rearrangement of Benziodoxole-Based CF3 and SCF3 Transfer Reagents.

Togni's benziodoxole-based reagents are widely used in trifluoromethylation reactions. It has been established that the kinetically stable hypervalent iodine form (I-CF3) of the reagents is thermodynamically less stable than its acyclic ether isomer (O-CF3). On the other hand, the trifluoromethylthio analogue exists in the thermodynamically stable thioperoxide form (O-SCF3), and the hypervalent form (I-SCF3) has been elusive. Despite the importance of these reagents, very little is known about the reaction mechanisms of their syntheses, which has hampered the development of new reagents of the same family. Herein, we use density functional theory calculations to understand the reasons for the divergent behaviors between the CF3 and SCF3 reagents. We demonstrate that they follow different mechanisms of formation and that the metals involved in the syntheses (potassium in the case of the trifluoromethyl reagent and silver in the trifluoromethylthio analogue) play key roles in the mechanisms and greatly influence the possibility of their rearrangements from the hypervalent (I-CF3, I-SCF3) to the corresponding ether-type form (O-CF3, O-SCF3).

Trifluoromethylthiolation, Trifluoromethylation, and Arylation Reactions of Difluoro Enol Silyl Ethers.

This study reports a new application area of difluoro enol silyl ethers, which can be easily obtained from trifluoromethyl ketones. The main focus has been directed to the electrophilic fluoroalkylation and arylation methods. The trifluoromethylthiolation of difluoro enol silyl ethers can be used for the construction of a novel trifluoromethylthio-α,α-difluoroketone (-COCF2SCF3) functionality. The -CF2SCF3 moiety has interesting properties due to the electron-withdrawing, albeit lipophilic, character of the SCF3 group, which can be combined with the high electrophilicity of the difluoroketone motif. The methodology could also be extended to difluoro homologation of the trifluoromethyl ketones using the Togni reagent. In addition, we presented a method for transition-metal-free arylation of difluoro enol silyl ethers based on hypervalent iodines.

Synthesis of Densely Substituted Conjugated Dienes by Transition-Metal-Free Reductive Coupling of Allenylboronic Acids and Tosylhydrazones.

Tosylhydrazones and allenylboronic acids underwent a transition-metal-free reductive coupling reaction. This process is suitable for synthesis of tetra- and pentasubstituted conjugated dienes. The corresponding allenyl-Bpin substrate showed a very poor reactivity. The reaction is suggested to involve coupling of the in situ formed diazo compound and allenylboronic acid. The intermediate formed in this coupling undergoes allenyl migration followed by protodeboronation to furnish a conjugated diene as major product.

Recent Advances in the Preparation and Application of Allylboron Species in Organic Synthesis.

In this Perspective we will highlight the most important recent breakthroughs in selective allylboron chemistry (both the synthesis and application of these species). In addition we will provide an outlook toward the future of this promising subfield of organic synthesis.

Synthesis of Allenes by Catalytic Coupling of Propargyl Carbonates with Aryl Iodides in the Presence of Diboron Species.

Bimetallic copper-/palladium-catalyzed multicomponent reaction of propargyl carbonates, aryl iodides, and diboron species was studied. This procedure can be used for synthesis of di-, tri-, and tetra-substituted allenes. Using diboronic acid, the reaction is supposed to proceed via allenylboronic acid intermediate.

Catalytic Borylative Opening of Propargyl Cyclopropane, Epoxide, Aziridine, and Oxetane Substrates: Ligand Controlled Synthesis of Allenyl Boronates and Alkenyl Diboronates.

A new copper-catalyzed reaction for the stereo- and regioselective synthesis of alkenyl diboronates and allenyl boronates is presented. In this process propargyl derivatives of strained three/four-membered rings were employed as substrates and B2pin2 was used as the boronate source. Selective formation of the alkenyl diboronate versus the allenyl boronate products was controlled by the choice of phosphine ligand.

Transition-Metal-Free Borylation of Allylic and Propargylic Alcohols.

The base-catalyzed allylic borylation of tertiary allylic alcohols allows the synthesis of 1,1-disubstituted allyl boronates, in moderate to high yield. The unexpected tandem performance of the Lewis acid-base adduct, [Hbase](+) [MeO-B2 pin2 ](-) favored the formation of 1,2,3-triborylated species from the tertiary allylic alcohols and 1-propargylic cyclohexanol at 90 °C.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Geminal Oxyfluorination and Oxytrifluoro-Methylation of Diazocarbonyl Compounds.

A new reaction for the rhodium-catalyzed geminal-difunctionalization-based fluorination is presented. The substrates are aromatic and aliphatic diazocarbonyl compounds. As the fluorine source a stable and easily accessible benziodoxole reagent was used. A variety of alcohol, phenol, and carboxylic acid reagents were employed to introduce the second functionality. The reaction was extended to trifluoromethylation using a benziodoxolon reagent. The fluorination and trifluoromethylation reactions probably proceed by a rhodium-containing onium ylide type intermediate, which is trapped by either the F or CF3 electrophiles.

Catalytic Asymmetric Allylboration of Indoles and Dihydroisoquinolines with Allylboronic Acids: Stereodivergent Synthesis of up to Three Contiguous Stereocenters.

The catalytic asymmetric allylboration of cyclic imines with γ,γ-disubstituted allylboronic acids provides products with adjacent stereocenters in high yield and stereoselectivity. Various electrophiles, including 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines and indoles, were prenylated in a fully stereodivergent fashion by switching the E/Z geometry of the allylboronate and/or the enantiomer of the BINOL catalyst. 3-Methylindole provided products with three adjacent stereocenters with high stereoselectivity in one synthetic operation.

Synthesis of Adjacent Quaternary Stereocenters by Catalytic Asymmetric Allylboration.

Allylboration of ketones with γ-disubstituted allylboronic acids is performed in the presence of chiral BINOL derivatives. The reaction is suitable for single-step creation of adjacent quaternary stereocenters with high selectivity. We show that, with an appropriate choice of the chiral catalyst and the stereoisomeric prenyl substrate, full control of the stereo- and enantioselectivity is possible in the reaction.

Palladium-Catalyzed Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Benzofurans: An Approach Towards the Synthesis of Deuterium Labeled Compounds.

Palladium-catalyzed oxidative annulations between phenols and alkenylcarboxylic acids produced a library of benzofuran compounds. Depending on the nature of the substitution of the phenol precursor, either 2,3-dialkylbenzofurans or 2-alkyl-3-methylene-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans can be synthesized with excellent regioselectivity. Reactions between conjugated 5-phenylpenta-2,4-dienoic acids and phenol gave 3-alkylidenedihydrobenzofuran alkaloid motifs while biologically active 7-arylbenzofuran derivatives were prepared by starting from 2-phenylphenols. More interestingly, selective incorporation of deuterium from D2O has been discovered, which offers an attractive one-step method to access deuterated compounds.

Direct allylation of quinones with allylboronates.

Allylboronates undergo C-H allylation of unsubstituted or monosubstituted benzoquinone and naphthoquinone substrates. In the case of 2,5- or 2,6-disubstituted quinones addition involving the substituted carbon takes place. Allylation with stereodefined allylboronates occurs with retention of the configuration.