Reaction of 2,2,4,4-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dithiethane with N-vinyl compounds.

The reaction of hexafluorothioacetone dimer (2,2,4,4-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-dithiethane, 1) with vinylamides leads to the rapid formation of [2 + 2] cycloadducts: 4-amino-2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)thietanes. The reaction proceeds in polar solvents (DMF, DMSO) in the absence of a catalyst at elevated temperature producing the corresponding cycloadducts in 47-86% yield. The reaction of N-vinylimidazole unexpectedly led to the formation of the corresponding 1-(hexafluoroisopropyl)-3-vinyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazole-2-thione (5). The structure of this compound, along with the structures of two new thietanes was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

Acid catalyzed cyclodimerization of 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-alkoxy-oxetanes and -thietanes. Synthesis of 2,2,6,6-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-4,8-dialkoxy-1,5-dioxocanes and 3,3,7,7-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-9-oxa-2,6-dithia-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane.

Treatment of 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-R-oxetanes (R = C2H5O, n-C3H7O, n-C4H9O) with BF3.OEt2 in CH2Cl2 solvent results in spontaneous electrophilic [4 + 4] cyclodimerization with the formation of the corresponding 2,2,6,6-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-4,8-dialkoxy-1,5-dioxocanes, isolated in 31-42% yield. The structures of two products (R = C2H5O and n-C3H7O) were established by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The corresponding oxetane carrying the bulky t-C4H9O group has different reactivity towards BF3.OEt2, slowly producing a mixture of two acyclic, unsaturated products.Clean and spontaneous reaction with alcohols is another interesting transformation of oxetanes described in this paper. The reaction leads to high yield formation of the corresponding acetals (CF3)2C(OH)CH2CH(OR)OR'.Structurally related 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4-R-thietanes (R = i-C3H7O, t-C4H9O and C2H5O) have different reactivity towards electrophiles. They are totally inert to the action of BF3.OEt2 and rapidly react with a protic acid (H2SO4) forming the same product, 3,3,7,7-tetrakis(trifluoromethyl)-9-oxa-2,6-dithia-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane in 35-50% yield. The structure of this product was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction.

The first perfluoroacetylacetonate metal complexes: as unexpectedly robust as tricky to make.

First metal complexes containing the perfluoroacetylacetonato ligand have been prepared by the reaction of anhydrous Ln(OAc)3 (Ln = Eu, Tb, Tm) with heptafluoroacetylacetone, optionally in the presence of other ligands Ph3PO, bpy, and PyO.

Selective Reduction of Halopolyfluorocarbons by Organosilicon Hydrides.

It is demonstrated that silicon hydrides can be used for reduction of polyfluorinated halocarbons. For example, the reaction between CF(3)CCl(2)F and excess triethylsilane, catalyzed by benzoyl peroxide, leads to the formation of a mixture containing CF(3)CHClF (major), CF(3)CH(2)F, and ClSi(C(2)H(5))(3). On the other hand, the reaction of chlorofluoroalkanes, containing an internal -CCl(2)- group readily proceeds with reduction of both chlorines, leading to compounds such as (CF(3))(2)CH(2) and CF(3)CH(2)C(2)F(5). In contrast to chlorofluoroalkanes, bromofluoroalkanes are much more reactive and reaction with hydrosilane rapidly proceeds without the catalyst at elevated temperature.

Selective Epoxidation of Olefins by Perfluoro-cis-2,3-dialkyloxaziridines(1).

Alkyl-substituted olefins are epoxidized by perfluoro-cis-2,3-dialkyloxaziridines under particularly mild conditions. Electron deficient substrates (e.g. alpha,beta-enones) can also be epoxidized, and the more electron poor the double bond is, the more severe the reactions conditions become. The epoxidation is chemoselective (secondary alcohols and their ethers do not interfere), site selective (the monoepoxide of a diene can be obtained), and stereoselective (cis-alkenes afford cis-epoxides). Various complex and polyfunctional substrates of natural origin (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, steroids) have been transformed effectively.