We outline a new synthetic method to prepare mono- and polyfluoroepoxides from a diverse pool of electrophiles (ketones, acyl chlorides, esters) and fluoroalkyl anion equivalents. The initially formed α-fluoro alkoxides undergo subsequent intramolecular ring closure when heated. We demonstrated the versatility of the method through the isolation of 16 mono- and polyfluoroepoxide products. These compounds provide unique entry points for further diversification via either fluoride migration coupled with ring opening, or defluorinative functionalization reactions, the latter of which can be used as a late-stage method to install select bioactive moieties. The reaction sequences described herein provide a pathway to functionalize the commonly observed products formed from 1,2-addition into carbonyl electrophiles.
Keywords: boron; defluorinative functionalization; epoxide; fluoroalkylation; main group.
© 2022 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.