Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Protocol for the Synthesis of Ortho-trifluoromethoxylated Aniline Derivatives
Published on: January 19, 2016
Preparative Method for Asymmetric Synthesis of (S)-2-Amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic Acid
Jianlin Han1, Ryosuke Takeda2, Xinyi Liu1
1College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, Jiangsu, China.
Abstract:
Enantiomerically pure derivatives of 2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid are in great demand as bioisostere of leucine moiety in the drug design. Here, we disclose a method specifically developed for large-scale (>150 g) preparation of the target (S)-N-Fmoc-2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid. The method employs a recyclable chiral auxiliary to form the corresponding Ni(II) complex with glycine Schiff base, which is alkylated with CF3-CH2-I under basic conditions. The resultant alkylated Ni(II) complex is disassembled to reclaim the chiral auxiliary and 2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid, which is in situ converted to the N-Fmoc derivative. The whole procedure was reproduced several times for consecutive preparation of over 300 g of the target (S)-N-Fmoc-2-amino-4,4,4-trifluorobutanoic acid.
Related Concept Videos
Preparation of Acid Anhydrides
The carboxylate ion acts as a nucleophile that attacks the carbonyl carbon of the acid chloride to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Subsequently, the re-formation of the carbonyl group with the loss of the chloride ion as a leaving group leads to the formation of an acid...
Preparation of Amides
The DCC-promoted synthesis of amides begins with the protonation of DCC by carboxylic acid. The protonation makes it a better acceptor. Next, the addition of carboxylate to the protonated carbodiimide gives a reactive acylating agent.
Subsequently, the amine acts as a nucleophile that attacks the acylating agent to form a tetrahedral intermediate. In the...
Preparation of 1° Amines: Hofmann and Curtius Rearrangement Mechanism
Preparation of 1° Amines: Hofmann and Curtius Rearrangement Overview
Preparation of 1° Amines: Gabriel Synthesis
Strong bases like NaOH or KOH deprotonate the phthalimide to form the corresponding anion, which acts as a nucleophile. Further, the anion attacks an...
Preparation of 1° Amines: Azide Synthesis
Azide ions act as good nucleophiles and react with unhindered alkyl halides to form alkyl azides. Alkyl azides do not participate in further nucleophilic substitution reactions, thereby eliminating the chances of polyalkylated products. Alkyl azides are reduced by hydride-based reducing agents, like lithium aluminum...

![Microwave-assisted One-pot Synthesis of N-succinimidyl-4-[18F]fluorobenzoate [18F]SFB](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F2755.jpg&w=3840&q=50)