Z-Enolate Geometry in the Thioamide Aldol Reaction Illuminated by the 7-Azaindoline Auxiliary.

Z or E enolate geometry is the primary determinant of diastereoselectivity in the aldol reaction. Although amide and thioamide enolates are anticipated to have predominantly the E geometry because of the intrinsic steric demand, spectroscopic confirmation of the geometry in solution has remained elusive, particularly in the realm of highly stereoselective catalytic asymmetric aldol reactions. Herein we demonstrate that the 7-azaindoline auxiliary enables direct observation of the exclusive formation of the Z-enolate of the thioamide en route to a highly syn-selective aldol reaction.

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of α-Alkoxyamides to α-Fluorinated Ketones.

α-Oxygen-functionalized amides found particular utility as enolate surrogates for direct aldol couplings with α-fluorinated ketones in a catalytic manner. Because of the likely involvement of open transition states, both syn- and anti-aldol adducts can be accessed with high enantioselectivity by judicious choice of the chiral ligands. A broad variety of alkoxy substituents on the amides and aryl and fluoroalkyl groups on the ketone were tolerated, and the corresponding substrates delivered a range of enantioenriched fluorinated 1,2-dihydroxycarboxylic acid derivatives with divergent diastereoselectivity depending on the ligand used. The amide moiety of the aldol adduct was transformed into a variety of functional groups without protection of the tertiary alcohol, showcasing the synthetic utility of the present asymmetric aldol process.

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Mannich-Type Reaction en Route to α-Hydroxy-ß-amino Acid Derivatives.

A direct catalytic Mannich-type reaction of α-oxygen-functionalized amides was achieved. The use of 7-azaindoline amide was crucial to facilitate direct enolization and subsequent stereoselective addition to imines in a cooperative catalytic system comprising a soft Lewis acid and Brønsted base. The operationally simple room-temperature protocol furnished a syn-Mannich adduct with high stereoselectivity. Divergent functional group transformation of the amide moiety of the product allowed for expeditious access to enantioenriched syn-configured α-hydroxy-ß-amino carboxylic acid derivatives, highlighting the synthetic utility of the present catalysis.

Direct Catalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reaction of α-Alkylamides.

A catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction directly employing amides as latent enolates has remained elusive because of the resistance of amides to enolization. A direct aldol reaction of α-alkylamides without any electron-withdrawing group harnessed by specific activation of 7-azaindoline amides under soft Lewis acid/Brønsted base cooperative catalysis is reported. Diastereo- and enantioselective coupling with ynals and aromatic aldehydes as well as divergent functional group interconversion of the amide provided expeditious access to a variety of aliphatic and aromatic chiral building blocks.

Copper catalyzed oxidative coupling reactions for trifluoromethylselenolations--synthesis of R-SeCF3 compounds using air stable tetramethylammonium trifluoromethylselenate.

The aerobic, room-temperature coupling of tetramethylammonium trifluoromethylselenate with readily available boronic acids, boronic esters, and terminal alkynes has been developed. The method permits direct access to valuable trifluoromethylselenoarenes and alkynes under mild conditions. A convenient one-pot reaction, a scale up procedure as well as an extension to perfluoroalkylselenates are also presented to further demonstrate the synthetic utility of this reaction.

Selective and Scalable Synthesis of Trifluoromethanesulfenamides and Fluorinated Unsymmetrical Disulfides using a Shelf-Stable Electrophilic SCF3 Reagent.

The chemoselective trifluoromethylthiolation of nitrogen nucleophiles and thiols using N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide under mild, metal-free conditions is described. A series of trifluoromethanesulfenamides and unsymmetrical disulfides is prepared from the corresponding aliphatic and aromatic amines and thiols in good yields. The reactions are operationally simple and tolerate a wide variety of functional groups. Trifluoromethanesulfenamides and disulfides belong to interesting classes of organic molecules which possess remarkable properties for medicinal and agrochemical applications.

Selective and scalable synthesis of trifluoromethanesulfenamides and fluorinated unsymmetrical disulfides using a shelf-stable electrophilic SCF3 reagent.

The chemoselective trifluoromethylthiolation of nitrogen nucleophiles and thiols using N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide under mild, metal-free conditions is described. A series of trifluoromethanesulfenamides and unsymmetrical disulfides is prepared from the corresponding aliphatic and aromatic amines and thiols in good yields. The reactions are operationally simple and tolerate a wide variety of functional groups. Trifluoromethanesulfenamides and disulfides belong to interesting classes of organic molecules which possess remarkable properties for medicinal and agrochemical applications.

Direct trifluoromethylthiolation of alcohols under mild reaction conditions: conversion of R-OH into R-SCF3.

A direct process for the trifluoromethylthiolation of allylic and benzylic alcohols under mild conditions has been developed. A wide range of free alcohols underwent nucleophilic substitution in the presence of stable CuSCF3 and BF3 ⋅Et2O to give the corresponding products in good to excellent yields.

Direct catalytic trifluoromethylthiolation of boronic acids and alkynes employing electrophilic shelf-stable N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide.

A new and safe method for the synthesis of N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide, a convenient and shelf-stable reagent for the direct trifluoromethylthiolation, has been developed. N-(Trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide can be used as an electrophilic source of F3 CS(+) and reacts readily with boronic acids and alkynes under copper catalysis. The utility of CF3 S-containing molecules as biologically active agents, the mild reaction conditions employed, and the high tolerance of functional groups demonstrate the potential of this new methodology to be widely applied in organic synthesis as well as industrial pharmaceutical and agrochemical research and development.

Catalytic enantioselective trifluoromethylthiolation of oxindoles using shelf-stable N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide and a cinchona alkaloid catalyst.

The organocatalytic enantioselective trifluoromethylthiolation of oxindoles employing N-(trifluoromethylthio)phthalimide as a stable, easy to handle CF3S-source has been developed. Optically active products with a quaternary stereogenic center bearing a CF3S-group are obtained in good yields and with good to excellent enantioselectivities.

N-trifluoromethylthiophthalimide: a stable electrophilic SCF3 -reagent and its application in the catalytic asymmetric trifluoromethylsulfenylation.

Cinchona alkaloid catalysts in combination with air- and moisture-stable N-trifluoromethylthiophthalimide as electrophilic SCF3 source enabled the catalytic enantioselective trifluoromethylsulfenylation. Thus, a series of α-SCF3 esters that bear a quaternary carbon stereogenic center were obtained with excellent yield and enantioselectivity. Moreover, the products can be readily converted into valuable α-SCF3 ß-hydroxyesters.