A Mild and Regioselective Synthesis of α-Fluoroketones via Gold and Selectfluor Partnership

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/adsc.201900268

An efficient, mild and rapid synthesis of α-fluoroketones has been developed, via a fruitful association between gold and Selectfluor starting from aldehyde-yne and alkynylaryl ketone derivatives. Several functionalized and synthetically highly valuable α-fluoroketones (21 compounds, up to 92%) were isolated in good to excellent yields via a remarkable regioselective oxyfluorination reaction in EtOH/H₂O at room temperature. We have shed some light on parts of the mechanism by reacting diphenylacetylene and aldehyde-yne with or without Selectfluor. The reaction most presumably occurs via a sequential gold-catalyzed regioselective hydration followed by the α-fluorination reaction, but the presence of aldehyde moiety is crucial for the reactivity of alkyne function. The fluoroketones were efficiently transformed to 4-fluoroisoquinolines (9 compounds, 82–95%) of high pharmaceutical interest. (Figure presented.).