Fluorinated alcohol solvent

As a third example for an organocatalytic reaction, based on multiple hydrogen bonding and mechanistically investigated by DFT, we selected olefin epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide in fluorinated alcohol solvents, such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hex-afluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) (Scheme 8). Here we encounter a new type of catalytic hydrogen bond the cooperative hydrogen bond. 

Berkessel A, Adrio JA, Ffiittenhain D, Neudorfl JM (2006) Unveiling the booster effect of fluorinated alcohol solvents aggregation-induced conformational changes and cooperatively enhanced Fl-bonding. J Am Chem Soc 128 8421-8426... 

In fluorinated alcohol solvents, nonstrained ketones such as cyclohexanone (1) undergo oxidation to lactones in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and catalytic amounts of Brpnsted acids (Berkessel and An-dreae 2001 Berkessel et al. 2002). Unlike the classical Baeyer-Villiger reaction, ketone oxidation with H2O2 in e.g. HFIP proceeds via a spiro-bisperoxide 2 intermediate (Scheme 1). In contrast to other solvents, the acid-catalyzed rearrangement of the spiro-bisperoxide 2 to two equivalents of the product lactone 3 proceeds rapidly and cleanly in HFIP. Preliminary calculations indicate active participation of the fluorinated alcohol solvent in the rate-determining step also in this case. 

Berkessel A, Adrio JA (2004) Kinetic studies of olefin epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide in l,l,l,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol reveal a crucial catalytic role for solvent clusters. Adv Synth Catal 346 275-280 Berkessel A, Adrio JA (2006) Dramatic acceleration of olefin epoxidation in fluorinated alcohols activation of hydrogen peroxide by multiple H-bond networks. J Am Chem Soc 128 13412-13420 Berkessel A, Adrio JA, Huttenhain D, Neudorfl JM (2006a) Unveiling the booster effect of fluorinated alcohol solvents aggregation-induced conformational changes, and cooperatively enhanced H-bonding. J Am Chem Soc 128 8421-8426... 

The epoxidation of alkenes is accelerated in fluorinated alcohol solvents the factors responsible for this rate acceleration have been examined <2006JA8421, 2006JA13412>. Chiral dioxiranes can now be used in a catalytic sense for the synthesis of vinyl m-epoxides <2006AGE4475>. 

In any event, TFE and H FIP are inert to oxidants and anodic oxidation [ 53 ]. This property of the fluorinated alcohol solvents has been widely used for mechanistic studies in oxidative reactions as well as organic syntheses [53-58]. 

Catalytic Oxidations with Hydrogen Peroxide in Fluorinated Alcohol Solvents... 

In 2000, Neimann and Neumann reported on alkene epoxidation by H2O2 in fluorinated alcohol solvents without the addition of further catalysts [21]. Shortly thereafter, in 2001, Sheldon et al. reported about their results, also on alkene epoxidation in fluorinated alcohol solvents [22]. In the latter study, it became clear that buffering the reaction mixtures, preferably by addition of Na2H PO4 improves the overall efficiency of the process, presumably by suppressing acidotalyzed degradation of the product epoxides. Scheme 4.3 summarizes the results obtained using TFE as solvent, whereas the results for HFIP are summarized in Scheme 4.4. 

The catalysts applied to alkene epoxidation in fluorinated alcohol solvents can be subdivided into those which are metal/chalconide-based and those which are purely organic in nature (Scheme 4.5). The former comprise arsanes/arsane oxides [27,28], arsonic acids [29, 30], seleninic acids/diselenides ]31-35], and rhenium compounds such as Re207 and MTO (methylrhenium trioxide) ]36,37]. As shown in Scheme 4.5, their catalytic activity is ascribed to the intermediate formation of, for example, perseleninic/perarsonic adds or bisperoxorhenium complexes. In other words, their catalytic effect is due to the equilibrium transformation of hydrogen peroxide to kmetically more active peroxidic spedes. 

Epoxidathn of Alkenes in Fluorinated Alcohol Solvents 113S... 

Under the same reaction conditions (i.e., fluorinated alcohol solvent, room temperature, 2 equiv. aqueous hydrogen peroxide), thiols are cleanly oxidized to disulfides (Scheme 4.12) [50]. 

Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Ketones in Fluorinated Alcohol Solvents 137... 

It was noted in Sections 4.3.2.2 and 4.3.2.3 that arsonic acids and seleninic adds are efficient catalysts for the epoxidation of alkenes. For both types of catalyst, significant enhancement of catalyst activity and selectivity was observed in fluorinated alcohol solvents compared to, for example, 1,4-dioxane. 

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