Ring-opening functionalizations of unstrained cyclic amines enabled by difluorocarbene transfer

Nat Commun. 2020 Sep 21;11(1):4761. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18557-8.

Abstract

Chemical synthesis based on the skeletal variation has been prolifically utilized as an attractive approach for modification of molecular properties. Given the ubiquity of unstrained cyclic amines, the ability to directly alter such motifs would grant an efficient platform to access unique chemical space. Here, we report a highly efficient and practical strategy that enables the selective ring-opening functionalization of unstrained cyclic amines. The use of difluorocarbene leads to a wide variety of multifaceted acyclic architectures, which can be further diversified to a range of distinctive homologative cyclic scaffolds. The virtue of this deconstructive strategy is demonstrated by successful modification of several natural products and pharmaceutical analogues.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemical synthesis*
  • Amines / chemistry*
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / chemistry*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Amines
  • Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • difluorocarbene