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Review
. 2018 Apr 11;118(7):3887-3964.
doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00778. Epub 2018 Apr 2.

Modern Approaches for Asymmetric Construction of Carbon-Fluorine Quaternary Stereogenic Centers: Synthetic Challenges and Pharmaceutical Needs

Affiliations
Review

Modern Approaches for Asymmetric Construction of Carbon-Fluorine Quaternary Stereogenic Centers: Synthetic Challenges and Pharmaceutical Needs

Yi Zhu et al. Chem Rev. .

Abstract

New methods for preparation of tailor-made fluorine-containing compounds are in extremely high demand in nearly every sector of chemical industry. The asymmetric construction of quaternary C-F stereogenic centers is the most synthetically challenging and, consequently, the least developed area of research. As a reflection of this apparent methodological deficit, pharmaceutical drugs featuring C-F stereogenic centers constitute less than 1% of all fluorine-containing medicines currently on the market or in clinical development. Here we provide a comprehensive review of current research activity in this area, including such general directions as asymmetric electrophilic fluorination via organocatalytic and transition-metal catalyzed reactions, asymmetric elaboration of fluorine-containing substrates via alkylations, Mannich, Michael, and aldol additions, cross-coupling reactions, and biocatalytic approaches.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structures of fluticasone propionate 4 and salmeterol 5.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A plausible catalytic cycle for cinchona alkaloids catalyzed enantioselective fluorodesilylation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Enamine transition-state geometries to rationalize the enantioselectivity.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Possible enamine intermediate showing a proposed intramolecular hydrogen bond.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Proposed transition states (I and II) for the two enantioselectivity switch fluorination reactions.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Proposed transition model for asymmetric fluorination.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Fluorine–ammonium ion gauche effect controlling the conformation of 9-fluoro-cinchonine.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Proposed transition state structure for asymmetric fluorination of β-keto esters.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Proposed dual catalytic cycle for the enantioselective fluorination of ketones.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Proposed transition state for asymmetric fluorination catalyzed by thiourea–tertiary amine.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Proposed activation model of the urea-containing chiral quaternary ammonium salt.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Proposed mechanism for the 1,4-addition and fluorination sequence.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Proposed transition state mode for fluorination catalyzed by chiral sodium phosphate.
Figure 14
Figure 14
Possible mechanism for the C41-catalyzed enantioselective fluorination of ketenes.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Proposed catalytic cycle for chiral anion phase-transfer catalyst.
Figure 16
Figure 16
Proposed transition state model for asymmetric fluorination of cyclic enamides catalyzed by anionic phase-transfer catalyst.
Figure 17
Figure 17
Suggested origin of diastereo- and regioselectivity for fluoro-amination.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Synthesis and Structure of Fludrocortisone 3
Scheme 2
Scheme 2
Key Fluorination Steps in the Synthesis of Fluticasone 4 and Difluprednate 6
Scheme 3
Scheme 3
Key Fluorination Step in the Synthesis of Solithromycin 13
Scheme 4
Scheme 4
Key Fluorination Step in the Synthesis of Sofosbuvir 14
Scheme 5
Scheme 5
Synthesis of α-Monofluorinated Compound 18 (a) and the Target Fluorinated Product 20 (b)
Scheme 6
Scheme 6
Intramolecular Michael Addition Sequence Leading to Fluorinated Product 22 (a) and α-Fluorination Leading to Compound 24 (b)
Scheme 7
Scheme 7
Asymmetric Electrophilic Fluorination Affording Compounds 26 (a), 28 (b), 31 (c), and 33 (d)
Scheme 8
Scheme 8
Chiral N–F Reagents for Enantioselective Fluorination
Scheme 9
Scheme 9
Substrate Types for Enantioselective Fluorination Using N–F Reagents: Silyl Enol Ethers (a), Allylsilanes (b), 1,3- Dicarbonyl Compounds (c), Oxindoles (d), Dipeptides (e), and Enolates (f)
Scheme 10
Scheme 10
Enantioselective Fluorination Using Cinchona Alkaloid Derived Reagents: Structural Types 65 (a) and 68 (b)
Scheme 11
Scheme 11
Preparation of Enantiomers of 3-Fluorothalidomide 74
Scheme 12
Scheme 12
Preparation of α-Fluorinated Ketones 76 Bearing a C–F Quaternary Carbon Center
Scheme 13
Scheme 13
Preparation of α-Fluorinated Ketones 78 Bearing a C–F Quaternary Carbon Center
Scheme 14
Scheme 14
Enantioselective Fluorination of Oxindoles
Scheme 15
Scheme 15
Enantioselective Fluorodesilylation Reactions of Silyl Enol Ethers
Scheme 16
Scheme 16
Enantioselective Fluorination of 3-Aryl-oxindoles
Scheme 17
Scheme 17
Enantioselective Fluorination of 3-Aryl-oxindoles Using Selectfluor
Scheme 18
Scheme 18
Enantioselective Fluorination–Cyclization of Indoles 92 with a Pendant Heteronucleophile Tethered at C3 Position
Scheme 19
Scheme 19
Asymmetric Electrophilic Fluorination of 4-Substituted Isoxazolinones 94
Scheme 20
Scheme 20
Asymmetric Fluorination of 4-Substituted Pyrazolones 96
Scheme 21
Scheme 21
Asymmetric α-Fluorination of Linear Aldehydes 98
Scheme 22
Scheme 22
Asymmetric α-Fluorination of Branched Aldehydes 101
Scheme 23
Scheme 23
Asymmetric α-Fluorination of α-Chloroaldehydes 103
Scheme 24
Scheme 24
Asymmetric α-Fluorination of α-Alkyl-α-chloroaldehydes 107
Scheme 25
Scheme 25
Enantioselective Preparation of gem-Chlorofluoro Compounds from Unfunctionalized Aldehydes
Scheme 26
Scheme 26
Asymmetric Synthesis of Fluorinated β-Prolinol Analogues
Scheme 27
Scheme 27
Enantioselective Fluorination of Cyclic α-Branched Aldehydes
Scheme 28
Scheme 28
Enantioselective Fluorination of α,α-Dialkyl Aldehydes
Scheme 29
Scheme 29
Enantioselective Fluorination of α,α-Dialkyl Aldehydes Followed by the Reduction to the Corresponding Alcohols
Scheme 30
Scheme 30
Enantioselective Fluorination of α,α-Dialkyl Aldehydes via Enamine Intermediates
Scheme 31
Scheme 31
Enantioselective Fluorination of α-Aryl-α-alkyl aldehydes
Scheme 32
Scheme 32
Enantioselective Fluorination of β-Ketoesters 126
Scheme 33
Scheme 33
Asymmetric Fluorination of β-Ketoesters 128
Scheme 34
Scheme 34
Enantioselective Electrophilic Fluorination of β-Keto Esters 130
Scheme 35
Scheme 35
Asymmetric Fluorination of α-Cyano Acetates 134
Scheme 36
Scheme 36
Asymmetric Fluorination of Indane Carboxylates 136
Scheme 37
Scheme 37
Asymmetric Electrophilic Fluorination of β-Ketoesters 138
Scheme 38
Scheme 38
Asymmetric α-Fluorination of t-Butyl Indane Carboxylates and Their Analogues 140
Scheme 39
Scheme 39
Asymmetric Electrophilic Fluorination of 3-Substituted Benzofuran-2(3H)-ones 142
Scheme 40
Scheme 40
Enantioselective Fluorination of Cyclohexanones 146
Scheme 41
Scheme 41
Enantioselective Fluorination of β-Keto Esters 148
Scheme 42
Scheme 42
Asymmetric Fluorination of β-Keto Esters 150
Scheme 43
Scheme 43
Asymmetric Fluorination of Pyrazolone Derivatives 152
Scheme 44
Scheme 44
Conjugate Addition/Dearomatizative Fluorination of Isoxazol-5(4H)-ones 155
Scheme 45
Scheme 45
oxa-Michael Addition/Electrophilic Fluorination Transformations
Scheme 46
Scheme 46
Tandem Friedel–Crafts/Fluorination Process: Structural Generality (1), Large-Scale Synthesis (2), and Elucidation of the Stereochemical Outcome (3)
Scheme 47
Scheme 47
Preparation of α-Fluoro-ester 163
Scheme 48
Scheme 48
Enantioselective Fluorination of 1,3-Dicarbonyl and α-Cyano Carbonyl Compounds 164
Scheme 49
Scheme 49
Enantioselective Fluorination of β-Keto Esters 166
Scheme 50
Scheme 50
Enantioselective Coupling of Aryl Alkyl Ketenes 168
Scheme 51
Scheme 51
Phosphono-fluorination of Unactivated Alkenes 170
Scheme 52
Scheme 52
Electrophilic Fluoro-cyclization of Indenes 172
Scheme 53
Scheme 53
Preparation of Fluorotetrahydro-5H-indeno-[2,1-c]quinolones 176
Scheme 54
Scheme 54
Enantioselective Tandem Nazarov Cyclization/Electrophilic Fluorination Sequence
Scheme 55
Scheme 55
Tandem 1,4-Addition/Fluorination Sequence of Acyclic Alkylidene β-Keto Esters 179
Scheme 56
Scheme 56
Asymmetric Fluorination of Alkylidene β-Keto Esters
Scheme 57
Scheme 57
Enantioselective Fluoro-cyclization of Alkenes 181
Scheme 58
Scheme 58
Preparation of α-Fluorinated Benzoyl-imines 184
Scheme 59
Scheme 59
Tandem Oxyfluorination Transformations of Acyclic Aldehyde-Derived Enamides
Scheme 60
Scheme 60
Enantioselective 1,4-Aminofluorocyclization of Conjugated 1,3-Dienes
Scheme 61
Scheme 61
Preparation of Octahydro-isoquinoline Compounds with a C–F Quaternary Carbon Center
Scheme 62
Scheme 62
Enantioselective Electrophilic Fluorination of Alkenes 189
Scheme 63
Scheme 63
Asymmetric Fluorination of 2,3-Disubstituted Phenols 191
Scheme 64
Scheme 64
Tandem Fluorination-[4 + 2] Cycloaddition
Scheme 65
Scheme 65
Preparation of Fluorinated Analogue of Natural Product (–)-Grandifloracin
Scheme 66
Scheme 66
Asymmetric Fluorinative Dearomatization of Tryptamide Derivatives
Scheme 67
Scheme 67
Asymmetric Fluorinative Dearomatization of 3,5-Dimethyl Substituted Substrate
Scheme 68
Scheme 68
Intermediate Transition Metal Bidentate Enolate Complexes
Scheme 69
Scheme 69
Asymmetric Fluorination of Acyclic (a) and Cyclic β-Keto Esters (b)
Scheme 70
Scheme 70
Enolate Re-Face (a) and Si-Face (b) Shielding Considerations
Scheme 71
Scheme 71
Enantioselective Sequential Fluoro-chlorination and Chloro-fluorination of β-Keto Esters
Scheme 72
Scheme 72
Enantioselective Fluorination Reactions Catalyzed by Palladium Complex (a) and Its Application for Acyclic and Cyclic Substrates (b)
Scheme 73
Scheme 73
Pd-Catalyzed Fluorination of β-Keto Esters
Scheme 74
Scheme 74
Pd-Catalyzed Fluorination of β-Keto Amides (a) and Their Heterocyclic Analogues (b)
Scheme 75
Scheme 75
Large-Scale Preparation of Commercial SYK Inhibitor
Scheme 76
Scheme 76
Asymmetric Fluorination of β-Keto Phosphonate Esters (a) and α-Aryl-α-cyanophosphate Esters (b)
Scheme 77
Scheme 77
Enantioselective Fluorination of Oxindole Derivatives; 3-Substituted N-Boc Oxindoles (a), 3-Unsubstituted N-Boc Oxindoles (b), and Conditions Using only 0.5 mol % of the Catalysts (c)
Scheme 78
Scheme 78
Asymmetric Fluorination of α-Ketoester 216
Scheme 79
Scheme 79
Ni- and Cu-Catalyzed Fluorination Using (S,S)-Box-Ph Ligand (a) and (R,R)-DBFOX-Ph Ligand (b)
Scheme 80
Scheme 80
Asymmetric Ni-Catalyzed Fluorination of β-Keto Esters
Scheme 81
Scheme 81
Ni-Catalyzed Asymmetric Fluorination Using (R)-BINAP (a) and (R,R)-DBFOX (b) Ligands
Scheme 82
Scheme 82
Cu-Catalyzed Enantioselective Fluorination of β-Keto Esters Using (R,R)-Box-Ph (a), Chiral Sulfoximine, Nap-(R,R)-Box, Chiral Spiro Oxazoline, Diphenylamine-Linked Bis(thiazoline), Ph-BINMOL-Derived Salan Ligands (b), and DNA as a Catalyst (c)
Scheme 83
Scheme 83
Asymmetric Fluorination of 1,3-Dicarbonyl Compounds 206 Catalyzed by Chiral Dicationic Ruthenium PNNP Complex
Scheme 84
Scheme 84
Asymmetric Fluorination of β-Keto Phosphonates (a) and Alkyl tert-Butyl Malonate Esters (b)
Scheme 85
Scheme 85
Rare Earth Metal Complex-Catalyzed Asymmetric Fluorination
Scheme 86
Scheme 86
Enantioselective Fluorination of β-Keto Esters Using Chiral Cobalt–Salen Complex (a) and Iron(III)–Salan Complex (b)
Scheme 87
Scheme 87
Asymmetric Catalytic Alkylation of Cyclic α-Fluoro Ketones
Scheme 88
Scheme 88
Phase-Transfer Catalyzed Asymmetric Alkylations
Scheme 89
Scheme 89
Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Arylation of α-Fluoroketones
Scheme 90
Scheme 90
Asymmetric Pd-Catalyzed Arylation Reaction with Aryl Triflates
Scheme 91
Scheme 91
Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylation Reaction of Silyl Protected Enolates
Scheme 92
Scheme 92
Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation Reaction of Linear α-Fluoro-β-keto Esters
Scheme 93
Scheme 93
Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation α-Fluoro Ketones
Scheme 94
Scheme 94
Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Tertiary Fluorinated Enolates Generated from C3-Fluorinated Oxindoles
Scheme 95
Scheme 95
Pd-Catalyzed Enantioselective Decarboxylative Allylation of α-Fluorinated Ketoesters
Scheme 96
Scheme 96
Pd-Catalyzed Allylation Reaction Using (S)-t-Bu-PHOX Ligand
Scheme 97
Scheme 97
Ni/bis(oxazoline)-Catalyzed Asymmetric Alkylation of Racemic α-Halo-α-fluoroketones
Scheme 98
Scheme 98
Mannich Reactions of Detrifluoroacetylatively in Situ Generated Fluorinated Enolates
Scheme 99
Scheme 99
Mannich Reactions of Detrifluoroacetylatively in Situ Generated Enolates Derived from 3-Fluoroindolin-2-ones
Scheme 100
Scheme 100
Asymmetric Detrifluoroacetylative Mannich Reactions Using N-tert-Butylsulfinyl-(perfluoro)benzaldimine
Scheme 101
Scheme 101
Detrifluoroacetylative Mannich Reactions of Indolin-2-ones with Fluorinated Aldimines
Scheme 102
Scheme 102
Mannich Reactions between α-Fluoro Esters and N-tert-Butylsulfinyl imines
Scheme 103
Scheme 103
Substrate Generality of the Mannich Reactions between α-Fluoro Esters and N-tert-Butylsulfinyl Imines
Scheme 104
Scheme 104
Mannich Reactions of α-Fluoro Ketones with N-tert-Butylsulfinylimines
Scheme 105
Scheme 105
Organocatalytic Mannich Reaction between α-Fluorinated Ketoesters and N-Boc-Protected Imines
Scheme 106
Scheme 106
Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Mannich Reactions of α-Fluoro-β-ketoesters with N-Boc-aldimines
Scheme 107
Scheme 107
Asymmetric Organocatalyzed Mannich Addition Reactions of α-Fluorinated Monothiomalonates with Imines
Scheme 108
Scheme 108
Asymmetric Mannich Reactions of Imines with β-Keto Acetyloxazolidinone Protected β-Keto-α-fluoro Esters
Scheme 109
Scheme 109
Mannich Reactions of α-Fluorinated Aromatic Cyclic Ketones with Imines Catalyzed by (S,S)-Bicyclic Guanidine
Scheme 110
Scheme 110
Asymmetric Catalytic Mannich Reactions Catalyzed by ZnEt2/(R,R)-Prophenol
Scheme 111
Scheme 111
Mannich Reactions of α-Fluoro Cyclic Ketones Using Song’s Chiral oligoEGs C63 Catalyst
Scheme 112
Scheme 112
Asymmetric Detrifluoroacetylative Mannich Reactions Using Chiral Anthracenyl-Substituted Cyclohexane-1,2-diamine as Organocatalyst
Scheme 113
Scheme 113
Detrifluoroacetylative Aldol Reactions Using Cinchona Alkaloid Derived Thiourea Catalyst
Scheme 114
Scheme 114
Detrifluoroacetylative Aldol Reactions Using Copper(II)/Chiral Bisoxazoline as a Catalyst
Scheme 115
Scheme 115
Detrifluoroacetylative Aldol Reactions of Alkyl Aldehydes in the Presence of Copper(II)/Chiral Bisoxazoline as a Catalyst
Scheme 116
Scheme 116
Detrifluoroacetylative Aldol Reactions of Aldehydes with Tertiary Enolates Derived from Fluoro-indolinones
Scheme 117
Scheme 117
Tandem Detrifluoroacetylative Aldol-Cyclization Reactions
Scheme 118
Scheme 118
Asymmetric Organocatalytic Aldol Reactions between Fluorinated Silyl Enol Ethers and Isatins
Scheme 119
Scheme 119
Organocatalytic Asymmetric Aldol Reactions between Fluorinated Enolates of Fluoromalonic Acid Half-Thioesters and Aldehydes
Scheme 120
Scheme 120
Asymmetric Organocatalytic Michael Reactions between Nitroolefins and Fluorinated β-Ketoesters
Scheme 121
Scheme 121
Organocatalytic Asymmetric Michael Addition Reactions between α-Fluoroketoesters to Nitroolefins
Scheme 122
Scheme 122
Bifunctional Thiourea–Tertiary Amine Organocatalytic Michael Reactions of β-Ketoesters
Scheme 123
Scheme 123
Asymmetric Michael Reactions of α-Fluoro-β-ketoesters with Nitroolefins
Scheme 124
Scheme 124
Asymmetric Michael Additions of α-Fluorinated-α-sulfonyl Ketones
Scheme 125
Scheme 125
Asymmetric Michael Additions of α-Fluoro β-Ketophosphonates
Scheme 126
Scheme 126
Michael Addition Reactions of 2-Fluoro-1,3-diketones with Nitroolefins
Scheme 127
Scheme 127
Asymmetric Michael Additions of α-Fluorinated Carbonyl Compounds with Nitroolefins
Scheme 128
Scheme 128
Asymmetric Organocatalytic Michael Addition Reactions of Fluorinated Monothiomalonates with β-Nitrostyrenes
Scheme 129
Scheme 129
Organocatalytic Asymmetric Michael Reactions of α-Fluoro-β-keto Esters with N-Alkyl Maleimides
Scheme 130
Scheme 130
Asymmetric Michael Addition Reactions of α-Fluorinated β-Keto Esters with di-tert-Butyl Azodicarboxylates
Scheme 131
Scheme 131
Asymmetric Michael Reactions Using (S)-1-Phenylethylamine as the Chiral Auxiliary
Scheme 132
Scheme 132
Asymmetric Michael Additions of Fluorinated Enol Silyl Ethers with Isatylidene Malononitriles
Scheme 133
Scheme 133
Asymmetric Michael Addition Reactions of 2,3-Butadienoates with 3-Fluorooxindoles
Scheme 134
Scheme 134
Asymmetric Michael Addition Reactions of α,β-Unsaturated Ketones with Malonates
Scheme 135
Scheme 135
Asymmetric Organocatalytic Michael Reactions Vinyl Sulfones with 3-Fluorinated Oxindoles
Scheme 136
Scheme 136
Cu-Catalyzed Detrifluoroacetylative Michael Addition Reactions
Scheme 137
Scheme 137
Palladium-Catalyzed Sonogashira Coupling Reactions of 2-Fluoro-9-oxime Ketolides
Scheme 138
Scheme 138
Sonogashira Coupling of 2-Fluoro-6-O-Propargyl Diazalides with Two Different Heteroaryl Bromide Reagents
Scheme 139
Scheme 139
Palladium-Catalyzed Sonogashira Cross-Coupling under Copper-Free Conditions
Scheme 140
Scheme 140
Palladium-Catalyzed Heck (A) and Sonogashira (B) Coupling Reactions
Scheme 141
Scheme 141
Palladium-Catalyzed Cyanation: Suzuki (A) and Stille (B) Coupling Reactions
Scheme 142
Scheme 142
Cross-Coupling Reactions Using Stille, Suzuki, Sonogashira, or Heck Conditions
Scheme 143
Scheme 143
Kumada Coupling Reactions
Scheme 144
Scheme 144
Nickel-Catalyzed Suzuki Coupling Reactions
Scheme 145
Scheme 145
Cross-Coupling Approach for the Formation of α-Alkyl-α-fluoro-β-lactams
Scheme 146
Scheme 146
Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki Coupling Reactions
Scheme 147
Scheme 147
Suzuki Coupling Reactions of Iodo-sulfonamide with 4-Carboxylphenylboronic Acid Using Palladium Black as the Catalyst
Scheme 148
Scheme 148
Lipase-Catalyzed Transesterification Reactions
Scheme 149
Scheme 149
Lipase-Catalyzed Hydrolysis Reactions
Scheme 150
Scheme 150
Biocatalytic Oxidation Reactions
Scheme 151
Scheme 151
Enzymatic Kinetic Resolution of 1-Acetoxy-2-aryl-2-fluoroalkanes by Hydrolysis (A) and Transesterification (B)
Scheme 152
Scheme 152
Desymmetrization of Glycol Systems by Biocatalytic Hydrolysis (A) and Esterification (B)
Scheme 153
Scheme 153
Desymmetrization of Fluorinated Polyfunctionalized Synthons by Lipase Mediated Asymmetric Hydrolysis (A) and Esterification (B)
Scheme 154
Scheme 154
Kinetic Resolution of Racemic 2-Fluoro-2-phenylcyclopropyl Derivatives by Lipase-Catalyzed Transesterification or Hydrolysis

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