Philippe Jubault

Syntheses and Applications of Monofluorinated Cyclopropanes

The combination of a fluorine atom and a cyclopropane ring, which both possess unique structural and chemical features, can generate new relevant building blocks for the discovery of efficient fluorinated biologically active agents. In this review, we report the different strategies to access monofluorocyclopropanes and highlight some of their attractive biological applications.

New entries toward the synthesis of OCF3-containing molecules

The OCF3 group is of high interest in the quest for new drugs and agrochemicals, thanks to its atypical features. This Highlight article depicts the recent and impressive advances toward the synthesis of OCF3-containing molecules.

Diethylzinc-Mediated One-Step Stereoselective Synthesis of α-Fluoroacrylates from Aldehydes and Ketones. Two Different Pathways Depending on the Carbonyl Partner

A efficient methodology allowing the one-pot stereoselective synthesis of alpha-fluoroacrylates, based on the addition of ethyl dibromofluoroacetate to a carbonyl derivative using diethylzinc as organometallic mediator, is described. Two different pathways have been identified depending on the involved carbonyl partner. In the case of aldehydes, an E2-type mechanism has been identified, whereas ketones go through an E1cb-type mechanism.

A Straightforward and Highly Diastereoselective Access to Functionalized Monofluorinated Cyclopropanes via a Michael Initiated Ring Closure Reaction

The synthesis of highly functionalized monofluorinated cyclopropanes based on a Michael Initiated Ring Closure (MIRC) reaction has been developed. The addition of quaternary ammonium salts derived from ethyl bromofluoroacetate on a panel of electron deficient alkenes followed by cyclization gave rise to an efficient access to monofluorinated cyclopropanes with good yields and remarkable diastereoselectivity.

[18F]CuCF3: A [18F]Trifluoromethylating Agent for Arylboronic Acids and Aryl Iodides

Positron emission tomography has emerged as the leading method for medical imaging with fluorine-18 as the most widely used radioactive isotope. Here we report a semi-automated method for the preparation of valuable [(18) F]trifluoromethylcopper, as well as its use for the radiosynthesis of [(18) F]trifluoromethylarenes and heteroarenes. Mild conditions of [(18) F]trifluoromethylation make this method particularly useful for the radiosynthesis of pharmacologically relevant [(18) F]trifluoromethylarenes and heteroarenes.

Synthesis of Fluorinated Cyclopropyl Amino Acid Analogues: Toward the Synthesis of Original Fluorinated Peptidomimetics.

A straightforward, easy, and practical access to various amino acid analogues (methionine, leucine, lysine, and arginine) from a unique fluorinated cyclopropane scaffold is described. Moreover, the synthesis, for the first time, of one tripeptide incorporating a fluorinated cyclopropane amino acid (FCAA) analogue is reported.

One-step synthesis of highly functionalized monofluorinated cyclopropanes from electron-deficient alkenes.

The unique combination of Zn/LiCl allowed generation of reactive zinc enolate from ethyl dibromofluoroacetate. This fluorinated enolate reacts efficiently with a wide range of functionalized electron-deficient alkenes to afford the corresponding monofluorinated cyclopropylcarboxylates in good yields.

Rhodium-Catalyzed Cyclopropanation of Fluorinated Olefins: A Straightforward Route to Highly Functionalized Fluorocyclopropanes

An efficient access to highly functionalized monofluorocyclopropanes is described. The developed methodology allowed straightforward access to a large panel of polysubstituted fluorinated cyclopropanes in good to excellent yields and good diastereoselectivities. The Rh-catalyzed cyclopropanation proved to be efficient on several fluorinated olefins and several diazo compounds. This method represents the first general route to complex fluorinated cyclopropanes.

First Efficient Synthesis of Fluorinated Glycidic Esters from Ketones

Treatment of various ketones with ethyl dibromofluoroacetate in the presence of diethylzinc and dimethylaminoethanol or triphenylphosphine provides rapid access to corresponding fluorinated glycidic esters. Simplified workup allowed first characterization of these compounds.

Α-amino-β-fluorocyclopropanecarboxylic acids as a new tool for drug development: synthesis of glutamic acid analogs and agonist activity towards metabotropic glutamate receptor 4.

Herein we describe the diastereoselective synthesis of glutamic acid analogs and the evaluation of their agonist activity towards metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 4 (mGluR4). These analogs are based on a monofluorinated cyclopropane core substituted with an α-aminoacid function. The potential of this new building block as a tool for the development of a novel class of drugs is demonstrated with racemic analog 11a that displayed the best agonist activity with an EC50 of 340 nM.