Copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of alkenes with an electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagent

Abstract

An efficient method for the copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes with an electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagent has been developed. The reactions proceeded smoothly to give trifluoromethylated alkenes in good to excellent yields. The results provided a versatile approach for the construction of C_vinyl–CF₃ bonds without using prefunctionalized substrates.

Introduction

The incorporation of a trifluoromethyl group into pharmaceutically and agrochemically relevant molecules usually enhances their chemical and metabolic stability, lipophilicity and binding selectivity [1–7]. As a result, considerable effort has been directed towards the development of efficient and versatile trifluoromethylation methods [8–16]. The past few years has witnessed the rapid advances in transition metal-promoted trifluoromethylation for the construction of C_aryl–CF₃ bonds [17–31]. In contrast, transition metal-mediated trifluoromethylation to form C_vinyl–CF₃ bonds has been much less explored. As illustrated in Scheme 1, the strategies developed recently usually require the use of prefunctionalized alkenes, which could be classified into the following: vinylboronic acids, vinyl borates, vinyl halides, vinyl sulfonates and vinyl carboxylic acids (Scheme 1, reaction 1) [32–38]. Cho and co-workers reported a radical process for the trifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes without using prefunctionalized substrates, but a volatile reagent was used (Scheme 1, reaction 1) [39]. Szabó described trifluoromethyl-benzoyloxylation of alkynes to construct C_vinyl–CF₃ bonds (Scheme 2, reaction 2) [40]. As part of our continuing interest in trifluoromethylation reactions [25,41–45], we investigated the copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes with electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagents (Scheme 1, reaction 3).

Scheme 1.

Construction of the C_vinyl–CF₃ bond.

Scheme 2.

Proposed reaction paths for the trifluoromethylation of alkenes.

Transition metal-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes has been reported by several groups. However, these methods focused on the formation of C_sp3–CF₃ bonds [46–56]. In copper-catalyzed reactions with electrophilic trifluoromethylating reagents, it was proposed that the transformation might proceed via a radical, electrophilic or Heck-type process (Scheme 2) [47–50]. We reasoned that even if the reaction involved the radical process (path A, Scheme 2), the radical intermediate could still be oxidized to a cation because electrophilic trifluoromethylation reagents can be considered as an oxidant. In the presence of base, both of the cation and Heck-type intermediates should be able to undergo hydrogen elimination to form a C_vinyl–CF₃ bond. On the basis of these reports and our hypothesis, we commenced to examine the reaction of aromatic alkenes with electrophilic trifluoromethylation reagents in the presence of copper and base.

Results and Discussion

Previously, we reported that copper powder or cuprous iodide could promote trifluoromethylation of heteroaromatics, arylboronic acids or terminal alkynes with trifluoromethyl sulfonium salt I [25,44–45,57–58]. But the same trifluoromethylation reagent (2 equiv) failed to convert 4-vinylbiphenyl to the expected alkene in reasonable yields in acetonitrile with B₁ (DBU) as the base, even though cuprous iodide gave better results (Table 1, entries 1 and 2). In the presence of cuprous iodide, Umemoto’s reagent (II) and Togni’s reagent (III) were found to be more efficient in this transformation (Table 1, entries 3 and 4). ¹⁹F NMR measurements showed that the reaction system turned to be complex and low yield of the desired product was determined when another Togni’s reagent (IV) was used (Table 1, entry 5). Other cuprous complexes were also studied with the use of Togni’s reagent (III) (Table 1, entries 6–10). Better result obtained with [(MeCN)₄Cu]PF₆ prompted us to continue to use this copper source (Table 1, entry 10). When B₂ was used instead of B₁, almost no desired product was observed (Table 1, entry 11). That might be because B₂ not only acted as base, but also acted as strongly coordinating ligand, which poisoned the catalyst and shut down the reaction. Other bases (Table 1, entries 12–15), including an inorganic base (Table 1, entry 15), failed to accelerate the desired conversion either. The examination of the solvent effect showed that the solvent is quite important for the reaction (Table 1, entries 16–20). When the reaction was carried out in DMF, the expected product 2a was obtained in excellent yield (Table 1, entry 16). The yield was decreased dramatically in DMSO (Table 1, entry 17). Almost no reaction took place in polar protic solvent (Table 1, entry 18) and moderate results were achieved in less polar solvents (Table 1, entries 19 and 20). With increasing the amount of Togni’s reagent (III) in the suitable solvent, DMF, the product was obtained almost in quantitative yield with excellent stereoselectivity (dr >98:2) determined by ¹⁹F NMR (Table 1, entry 21). Decreasing the amount of this reagent resulted in a lower yield (Table 1, entry 22). The absence of catalyst or base led to no reaction or incredibly low yield, which means both of them are crucial for the reaction (Table 1, entries 23–25).

Table 1.

Trifluoromethylation of 4-vinylbiphenyl by electrophilic trifluoromethylation reagents.

Entry	Cat.	Base	Solvent	“CF3+”	Yield (%)a
1	Cu	B1	CH3CN	I	trace
2	CuI	B1	CH3CN	I	30
3	CuI	B1	CH3CN	II	56
4	CuI	B1	CH3CN	III	60
5	CuI	B1	CH3CN	IV	30
6	CuBr	B1	CH3CN	III	46
7	CuCl	B1	CH3CN	III	36
8	CuTc	B1	CH3CN	III	54
9	CuOAc	B1	CH3CN	III	41
10	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B1	CH3CN	III	75
11	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B2	CH3CN	III	trace
12	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B3	CH3CN	III	10
13	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B4	CH3CN	III	trace
14	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B5	CH3CN	III	10
15	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B6	CH3CN	III	7
16	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B1	DMF	III	90
17	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B1	DMSO	III	57
18	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B1	CH3OH	III	trace
19	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B1	THF	III	67
20	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B1	CHCl3	III	75
21b	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B1	DMF	III	98
22c	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	B1	DMF	III	58
23	–	–	DMF	III	0
24	–	B1	DMF	III	0
25	[(MeCN)4Cu]PF6	–	DMF	III	10

^aYields determined by ¹⁹ F NMR spectroscopy. ^b2.5 equiv of III was used. ^c1.5 equiv of III was used.

With the optimized reaction conditions in hand (Table 1, entry 21), we then explored the substrate scope of the Cu(I)-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes with Togni’s reagent. As shown in Figure 1, the reaction could tolerate various functional groups. It is worth mentioning that all of the products were obtained with excellent stereoselectivity (E/Z >97/3), determined by ¹⁹F NMR. Substrates with an electron-donating group were converted smoothly into the desired products in excellent yields (2a–2f). Irrespective of the position of the bromine substituent on the aryl ring, the reaction proceeded very well to afford the desired products in excellent yields (2g–2i). Stronger electron-withdrawing groups showed some negative effect on the reaction, as exemplified by the poor results of substrates with other halides, carbonyl or nitro groups on the benzene ring (2j–2m). Heteroaromatic alkenes were also investigated (2n and 2o). As previously seen, alkene 1n endowed with an electron-rich heteroaromatic group led to a good result (2n) and an electron-deficient substrate resulted in low yield (2o).

Figure 1.

Cu(I)-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes with Togni’s reagent. Isolated yield are recorded.

With regard to the reaction mechanism, it is reasonable to conceive a pathway involving radical species according to previous reports [47–50]. To gain more insight into the mechanism, further evidence was collected. 2,2,6,6-Tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO), a well-known radical scavenger, was added to the reaction of 4-vinylbiphenyl with Togni’s reagent (III) in the presence of [(MeCN)₄Cu]PF₆. It was found that the desired trifluoromethylation was completely suppressed, which suggested that the transformation involved a radical process. Based on the above results, we proposed the mechanism as outlined in Scheme 3. Initially, the activation of III by Cu(I) led to the formation of radical intermediate A. Decomposition of this intermediate produces ((2-(2-iodophenyl)propan-2-yl)oxy)copper(II) (C) and a CF₃ radical, which is trapped by alkenes to form the trifluoromethylated radical intermediate B. Subsequently, the radical intermediate B is oxidized by Cu(II) (C) to the cation intermediate D with simultaneous release of catalyst Cu(I). In the presence of base, intermediate D readily undergoes hydrogen elimination to give the final product.

Scheme 3.

Proposed mechanism for the trifluoromethylation of terminal alkenes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have described the copper-catalyzed trifluoromethylation of alkenes with Togni’s reagent under mild conditions. The results presented here provided a versatile approach for the construction of C_vinyl–CF₃ bonds without using prefunctionalized substrates. Investigations on the application of the trifluoromethylation method to the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals are currently underway.

Supporting Information

File 1

Full experimental details, analytical data and spectra of the target compounds.

This article is part of the Thematic Series "Organo-fluorine chemistry III".