The interaction of pentafluorophenylmagnesium bromide with conjugate nitroalkenes
is described. The optimized conditions involve performing the reaction either in diethyl
ether in the presence of chlorotrimethylsilane or in a tetrahydrofuran–diethyl ether
solvent mixture. The addition products can be transformed into 4,5,6,7-tetrafluoroindolines
by means of a reduction and cyclization sequence.
Key words
alkenes - nucleophilic addition - fluorine - nitro compounds - pentafluorophenyl