Ligand-Promoted, Enantioconvergent Synthesis of Aliphatic Alkanes Bearing Trifluoromethylated Stereocenters via Hydrotrifluoroalkylation of Unactivated Alkenes

Comprehensive Summary While drug chirality remains one of the most important themes in medicinal chemistry and fluorine-containing drugs have comprised large portion of global pharmaceutical market, the synthesis of fluorine-containing compounds featuring a trifluoromethylated stereogenic carbon center is still underdeveloped. Recent strategy of enantioconvergent cross-coupling of trifluoromethylated alkyl halide has significantly updated previous toolbox that is dependent on additional functional group to achieve desired bond formation and highly enantioselective control. However, evident limitations were present in specific coupling candidate (sp(2) carbon) and/or prerequisite heteroatom in trifluoroalkyl source for inducing effective stereoconvergent differentiation. Leveraging novel design of sterically hindered bisoxazoline ligand and drastic increase of molecular complexity of in situ generated sp(3) coupling partner via metal-hydride atom transfer, herein, we report a nickel-catalyzed, highly enantioselective hydrotrifluoroalkylation of unactivated alkenes for diverse synthesis of enantioenriched aliphatic alkanes featuring trifluoromehylated stereogenic carbon. Excellent stereochemical control (mostly >95: 5 er), high catalytic reactivity, mild conditions, and broad substrate scope (40+ examples), enable convenient late-stage asymmetric trifluoroalkylation of various biologically active complex molecules.