Reactions of Methyl Diazoacetate with (E)‐ and (Z)‐1,2‐Bis(trifluoromethyl)ethene‐1,2‐dicarbonitrile: Novel and Unanticipated Pathways

Abstract

AbstractThe cycloadditions of methyl diazoacetate to 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)fumaronitrile ((E)‐BTE) and 2,3‐bis(trifluoromethyl)maleonitrile ((Z)‐BTE) furnish the 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazoles 13. The retention of dipolarophile configuration proceeds for (E)‐BTE with > 99.93% and for (Z)‐BTE with > 99.8% (CDCl3, 25°), suggesting concertedness. Base catalysis (1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO), proton sponge) converts the cycloadducts, trans‐13 and cis‐13, to a 94 : 6 equilibrium mixture (CDCl3, r.t.); the first step is N‐deprotonation, since reaction with methyl fluorosulfonate affords the 4,5‐dihydro‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazoles. Competing with the cis/trans isomerization of 13 is the formation of a bis(dehydrofluoro) dimer (two diastereoisomers), the structure of which was elucidated by IR, 19F‐NMR, and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy. The reaction slows when DABCO is bound by HF, but F− as base keeps the conversion to 22 going and binds HF. The diazo group in 22 suggests a common intermediate for cis/trans isomerization of 13 and conversion to 22: reversible ring opening of N‐deprotonated 13 provides 18, a derivative of methyl diazoacetate with a carbanionic substituent. Mechanistic comparison with the reaction of diazomethane and dimethyl 2,3‐dicyanofumarate, a related tetra‐acceptor‐ethylene, brings to light unanticipated divergencies.