Asymmetric syntheses of 1-aryl-2,2,2-trifluoroethylamines via diastereoselective 1,2-addition of arylmetals to 2-methyl-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)propane-2-sulfinamide.

Condensation of N-tert-butanesulfinamide (S)-1 with trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate 2a afforded 2-methyl-N-(2,2,2-trifluoroethylidene)propane-2-sulfinamide 3. Without isolation and purification, imine 3 was added to various aryllithium reagents to give highly diastereomerically enriched adducts 5a-g. Acidic methanolysis of 5a-g provided the desired 1-aryl-2,2,2-trifluoroethylamine hydrochloride compounds 6a-g.