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Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Metal-free Synthesis of Ynones from Acyl Chlorides and Potassium Alkynyltrifluoroborate Salts
Published on: February 24, 2015
Efficient Access to Multifunctional Trifluoromethyl Alcohols through Base-Free Catalytic Asymmetric C-C Bond
Andrea M Cook1, Christian Wolf2
1Department of Chemistry, Georgetown University, 37th and O Streets, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
Abstract:
The asymmetric addition of terminal ynamides to trifluoromethyl ketones with a readily available chiral zinc catalyst gives CF3 -substituted tertiary propargylic alcohols in up to 99 % yield and 96 % ee. The exclusion of organozinc additives and base as well as the general synthetic utility of the products are key features of this reaction. The value of the β-hydroxy-β-trifluoromethyl ynamides is exemplified by selective transformations to chiral Z- and E-enamides, an amide, and N,O-ketene acetals. The highly regioselective hydration, stereoselective reduction, and hydroacyloxylation reactions proceed with high yields and without erosion of the ee value of the parent β-hydroxy ynamides.
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