Synthesis of Difluorinated Halohydrins by the Chemoselective Addition of Difluoroenolates to α-Haloketones

Org Lett. 2021 Jul 2;23(13):5098-5101. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c01636. Epub 2021 Jun 14.

Abstract

α-Haloketones are valuable intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and natural products because they display two electrophiles. Although chemoselective additions to each of these functional groups are known, the use of fluorinated nucleophiles has not been characterized, except for the dimerization of fluorohalomethyl ketones. Our studies demonstrate the use of difluoroenolates to create difluorinated bromohydrins and chlorohydrins from α-haloketones without any cyclization or rearrangement due to the mild conditions.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Alcohols
  • Chlorohydrins / chemical synthesis*
  • Chlorohydrins / chemistry
  • Cyclization
  • Halogenation
  • Ketones / chemical synthesis*
  • Ketones / chemistry

Substances

  • Alcohols
  • Chlorohydrins
  • Ketones
  • bromohydrins