Asymmetric synthesis of both mirror images of 3'-fluorothalidomide by enantiodivergent fluorination using a single, cinchona alkaloid

Org Lett. 2011 Feb 4;13(3):470-3. doi: 10.1021/ol102818g. Epub 2010 Dec 21.

Abstract

Enantiomerically pure 3'-fluorothalidomide (2) was successfully synthesized by enantiodivergent electrophilic fluorination using a combination of cinchona alkaloids and N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide (NFSI) as the key reaction. Importantly, a single chiral molecule, dihydroquinine (DHQ), allowed access to the mirror image form of 3'-fluorothalidimide by the choice of additives. While the use of TMEDA gave fluorinated (S)-4, the precursor of 2, with 78% ee, Cu(acac)(2)/bipy, afforded the antipode, (R)-4, in 77% ee.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Cinchona Alkaloids / chemistry*
  • Halogenation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Sulfonamides / chemical synthesis*
  • Sulfonamides / chemistry
  • Thalidomide* / analogs & derivatives
  • Thalidomide* / chemical synthesis
  • Thalidomide* / chemistry

Substances

  • Cinchona Alkaloids
  • Sulfonamides
  • N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide
  • Thalidomide