Synthesis of an Eccentric Electron-Deficient Fluorinated Motif, Tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanyl gem-Difluorocyclopropenes

Org Lett. 2022 Mar 4;24(8):1722-1726. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.2c00358. Epub 2022 Feb 24.

Abstract

Fluoro-functionalization is now recognized as a critical strategy in drug discovery; however, the accessible fluoro-functional groups are limited. We herein introduce an eccentric, fully fluorinated motif, trans-tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanyl gem-difluorocyclopropene 2. This novel motif is highly lipophilic and polarized, enabling a connection of two independent groups via three continuous atoms with a large angle of pseudo cis configuration. The target motif was synthesized via a [2+1] cycloaddition of electron-deficient (hetero)aryl-SF4-alkynes 1 with an electrophilic difluorocarbene source.