Jin-Shun Lin

Enantioselective CH Bond Functionalization Triggered by Radical Trifluoromethylation of Unactivated Alkene

An asymmetric unactivated alkene/C-H bond difunctionalization reaction for the concomitant construction of C-CF3 and C-O bonds was realized by using a Cu/Brønsted acid cooperative catalytic system, thus providing facile access to valuable chiral CF3-containing N,O-aminals with excellent regio-, chemo-, and enantioselectivity. Mechanistic studies revealed that this reaction may proceed by an unprecedented 1,5-hydride shift involving activation of unactivated alkenes and a radical trifluoromethylation to initiate subsequent enantioselective functionalization of C-H bonds. Control experiments also suggested that chiral Brønsted acid plays multiple roles and not only controls the stereoselectivity but also increases the reaction rate through activation of Tognis reagent.

Efficient Copper-Catalyzed Direct Intramolecular Aminotrifluoromethylation of Unactivated Alkenes with Diverse Nitrogen-Based Nucleophiles

A mild, convenient, and step-economical intramolecular aminotrifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes with a variety of electronically distinct, nitrogen-based nucleophiles in the presence of a simple copper salt catalyst, in the absence of extra ligands, is described. Many different nitrogen-based nucleophiles (e.g., basic primary aliphatic and aromatic amines, sulfonamides, carbamates, and ureas) can be employed in this new aminotrifluoromethylation reaction. The aminotrifluoromethylation process allows straightforward access to diversely substituted CF3-containing pyrrolidines or indolines, in good to excellent yields, through a direct difunctionalization strategy from the respective acyclic starting materials. Mechanistic studies were conducted and a plausible mechanism was proposed.

A Dual-Catalytic Strategy To Direct Asymmetric Radical Aminotrifluoromethylation of Alkenes

A novel asymmetric radical aminotrifluoromethylation of alkenes has been developed for the first time, providing straightforward access to densely functionalized CF3-containing azaheterocycles bearing an α-tertiary stereocenter with excellent enantioselectivity. The key to success is not only the introduction of a Cu(I)/chiral phosphoric acid dual-catalytic system but also the use of urea with two acidic N-H as both the nucleophile and directing group. The utility of this method is illustrated by facile transformations of the products into other important compounds useful in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry.

Copper-Catalyzed Aminotrifluoromethylation of Unactivated Alkenes with (TMS)CF3: Construction of Trifluoromethylated Azaheterocycles

The first example of a copper(I)-catalyzed intramolecular aminotrifluoromethylation of unactivated alkenes using (TMS)CF3 (trimethyl(trifluoromethyl)silane) as the CF3 source is described. A broad range of electronically and structurally varied substrates undergo convenient and step-economical transformations for the concurrent construction of a five- or six-membered ring and a C-CF3 bond toward different types of trifluoromethyl azaheterocycles. The methodology not only circumvents use of expensive electrophilic CF3 reagents or the photoredox strategy but also expands the scope to substrates that are difficult to access by the existing methods. Mechanistic studies are conducted, and a plausible mechanism is proposed.

Catalytic asymmetric radical aminoperfluoroalkylation and aminodifluoromethylation of alkenes to versatile enantioenriched-fluoroalkyl amines

Although great success has been achieved in asymmetric fluoroalkylation reactions via nucleophilic or electrophilic processes, the development of asymmetric radical versions of this type of reactions remains a formidable challenge because of the involvement of highly reactive radical species. Here we report a catalytic asymmetric radical aminoperfluoroalkylation and aminodifluoromethylation of alkenes with commercially available fluoroalkylsulfonyl chlorides as the radical sources, providing a versatile platform to access four types of enantioenriched α-tertiary pyrrolidines bearing β-perfluorobutanyl, trifluoromethyl, difluoroacetyl and even difluoromethyl groups in excellent yields and with excellent enantioselectivity. The key to success is not only the introduction of the CuBr/chiral phosphoric acid dual-catalytic system but also the use of silver carbonate to suppress strong background and side hydroamination reactions caused by a stoichiometric amount of the in situ generated HCl. Broad substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance and versatile functionalization of the products make this approach very practical and attractive.

Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroamination of Alkenes: Synthesis of Pyrrolidines Bearing a Tetrasubstituted Carbon Stereocenter

The first highly enantioselective Brønsted acid catalyzed intramolecular hydroamination of alkenes enables the efficient construction of a series of chiral (spirocyclic) pyrrolidines with an α-tetrasubstituted carbon stereocenter with excellent functional group tolerance. A unique feature of this strategy is the use of a thiourea group acting as both the activating and the directing group through cooperative multiple hydrogen bonding with a Brønsted acid and the double bond. The utility of this method is highlighted by the facile construction of chiral synthetic intermediates and important structural motifs that are widely found in organic synthesis.

Stereoselective Radical Cyclization Cascades Triggered by Addition of Diverse Radicals to Alkynes To Construct 6(5)–6–5 Fused Rings

Cascade radical cyclization of alkynyl ketones with various carbon- and heteroatom-centered radical precursors via a sequential radical addition/1,5-H radical shift/5-exo-trig/radical cyclization process was realized for the first time. This method provides a strategically novel and step-economical protocol for diversity-oriented synthesis of a wide range of carbocyclic and heterocyclic 6(5)-6-5 fused ring systems with three contiguous stereocenters, including a quaternary carbon in high yields with excellent chemo- and diastereoselectivity.

Transition-Metal-Free β-C–H Bond Carbonylation of Enamides or Amides with a Trifluoromethyl Group as CO Surrogate for the Synthesis of 1,3-Oxazin-6-ones

A cascade β-C-H bond trifluoromethylation/C(sp3)-F bond activation/hydrolysis reaction of enamides with Tognis reagent has been disclosed. This formal C-H bond carbonylation reaction utilizes the CF3 group as a CO surrogate to provide an efficient approach to 1,3-oxazin-6-ones in satisfactory yields. Furthermore, CF3-containing 1,3-oxazin-6-ones could also be accessed using this method by using alkenyl N-ethylamides involving the functionalization of one Csp2-H, one Csp3-H, one Csp2-H, and three Csp3-F bonds. The broad substrate scope of this method enables access to synthetically or pharmaceutically important compounds, which are difficult to access by known methods.