TfOH-Promoted Reaction of 2,4-Diaryl-1,1,1-Trifluorobut-3-yn-2-oles with Arenes: Synthesis of 1,3-Diaryl-1-CF<sub>3</sub>-Indenes and Versatility of the Reaction Mechanisms
Aleksey V. Zerov,
Anna N. Kazakova,
Irina A. Boyarskaya,
Taras L. Panikorovskii,
Vitalii V. Suslonov,
Olesya V. Khoroshilova,
Aleksander V. Vasilyev
Affiliations
Aleksey V. Zerov
Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7/9, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia
Anna N. Kazakova
Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7/9, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia
Irina A. Boyarskaya
Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7/9, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia
Taras L. Panikorovskii
Department of Crystallography, Institute of Earth Sciences, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7/9, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia
Vitalii V. Suslonov
Center for X-ray Diffraction Studies, Research park, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskiy pr. 26, Saint Petersburg, Petrodvoretz198504, Russia
Olesya V. Khoroshilova
Center for X-ray Diffraction Studies, Research park, St. Petersburg State University, Universitetskiy pr. 26, Saint Petersburg, Petrodvoretz198504, Russia
Aleksander V. Vasilyev
Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya nab., 7/9, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia
The TfOH-mediated reactions of 2,4-diaryl-1,1,1-trifluorobut-3-yn-2-oles (CF3-substituted diaryl propargyl alcohols) with arenes in CH2Cl2 afford 1,3-diaryl-1-CF3-indenes in yields up to 84%. This new process for synthesis of such CF3-indenes is complete at room temperature within one hour. The synthetic potential, scope, and limitations of this reaction were illustrated by more than 70 examples. The proposed reaction mechanism invokes the formation of highly reactive CF3-propargyl cation intermediates that can be trapped at the two mesomeric positions by the intermolecular nucleophilic attack of an arene partner with a subsequent intramolecular ring closure.