NHC-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of β-trifluoromethyl-β-hydroxyamides.

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed formal [2 + 2] cycloaddition between α-aroyloxyaldehydes and trifluoroacetophenones, followed by ring opening with an amine or a reducing agent is described. The resulting β-trifluoromethyl-β-hydroxyamide and alcohol products are produced with reasonable diastereocontrol (typically ≈70:30 dr) and excellent enantioselectivity, and they can be isolated in moderate to good yield as a single diastereoisomer.

Direct Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component Synthesis of Sulfonamides.

First introduced into medicines in the 1930s, the sulfonamide functional group continues to be present in a wide range of contemporary pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Despite their popularity in the design of modern bioactive molecules, the underpinning methods for sulfonamide synthesis are essentially unchanged since their introduction, and rely on the use of starting materials with preinstalled sulfur-functionality. Herein we report a direct single-step synthesis of sulfonamides that combines two of the largest monomer sets available in discovery chemistry, (hetero)aryl boronic acids and amines, along with sulfur dioxide, using a Cu(II) catalyst, to deliver a broad range of sulfonamides.

One-pot palladium-catalyzed synthesis of sulfonyl fluorides from aryl bromides.

A mild, efficient synthesis of sulfonyl fluorides from aryl and heteroaryl bromides utilizing palladium catalysis is described. The process involves the initial palladium-catalyzed sulfonylation of aryl bromides using DABSO as an SO source, followed by treatment of the resultant sulfinate with the electrophilic fluorine source NFSI. This sequence represents the first general method for the sulfonylation of aryl bromides, and offers a practical, one-pot alternative to previously described syntheses of sulfonyl fluorides, allowing rapid access to these biologically important molecules.

Enantioselective NHC-Catalyzed Redox [2+2] Cycloadditions with Perfluoroketones: A Route to Fluorinated Oxetanes.

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalyzed redox formal [2+2] cycloaddition between α-aroyloxyaldehydes and perfluoroketones, followed by ring-opening in situ delivers a variety of perfluorinated β-hydroxycarbonyl compounds in good yield, and excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivity. Through a reductive work-up and subsequent cyclization, this protocol offers access to highly substituted fluorinated oxetanes in two steps and in high ee.