Interrupting the Barton-McCombie Reaction: Aqueous Deoxygenative Trifluoromethylation of O-Alkyl Thiocarbonates

Org Lett. 2021 Feb 5;23(3):808-813. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c04039. Epub 2021 Jan 14.

Abstract

The site-selective trifluoromethylation of aliphatic systems remains an important challenge. This work describes a light-driven, copper-mediated trifluoromethylation of O-alkyl thiocarbonates. The reaction provides broad functional group tolerance (e.g., alkyne, alkene, phenol, free alcohol, electron-rich and -deficient arenes), thereby offering orthogonality and practicality for trifluoromethylation. A radical organometallic mechanism is proposed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols / chemistry
  • Alkenes / chemistry*
  • Alkynes / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Methylation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Alkenes
  • Alkynes
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Copper