Stereoselective Preparation and Cope Rearrangement of 2-CF3-cis-2,3-bis(alkenyl)oxiranes: A Facile Route to 2-CF3-Substituted Oxacycles

Abstract

We describe here a facile route to 2-trifluoromethyl-substituted 4,5-dihydrooxepins, which involves stereoselective preparation and Cope rearrangement of 2-trifluoromethyl-cis-2,3-bis(alkenyl)oxiranes. Treatment of 1,1-dichloro-2-hydroxy-2-trifluoromethylalk-3-enes with alkenyllithium and then lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide generated cis-2,3-bis(alkenyl)-2-lithio-3-trifluoromethyloxiranes, which reacted with a variety of electrophiles to give the corresponding tri- and tetrasubstituted oxiranes stereoselectively. Cope rearrangement of the cis-oxiranes proceeded upon heating, giving rise to 2-trifluoromethyl-substituted 4,5-dihydrooxepins in high to excellent yields. The Cope rearrangement is found remarkably accelerated by the presence of such metal substituents as boryl, silyl, and stannyl groups at 7-position, that can act as versatile functionalities for further elaboration of the ring-enlarged products. Subsequent reduction and oxidation of the rearranged products gave 2-trifluoromethylated oxepanes and oxepins in good yields.