Switchable Reductive N-Trifluoroethylation and N-Trifluoroacetylation of Indoles with Trifluoroacetic Acid and Trimethylamine Borane

Org Lett. 2022 Oct 14;24(40):7440-7445. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c03011. Epub 2022 Sep 29.

Abstract

The metal-free reductive N-trifluoroethylation and N-trifluoroacetylation of indoles have been developed. Bench stable and inexpensive trimethylamine borane and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) were utilized as the reductive and fluorinating reagents, respectively. These transformations were switchable on the basis of altering the loading of trimethylamine borane and TFA. Preliminary experiments indicated indoline was the common intermediate in these two transformations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Boranes*
  • Indoles
  • Methylamines
  • Trifluoroacetic Acid

Substances

  • Boranes
  • Indoles
  • Methylamines
  • Trifluoroacetic Acid
  • trimethylamine