Highly stereoselective synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-alpha-fluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and (E)- and (Z)-alpha-fluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated amides from 1-bromo-1-fluoroalkenes via palladium-catalyzed carbonylation reactions.

The highly stereoselective synthesis of (E)- and (Z)-alpha-fluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters and (E)- and (Z)-alpha-fluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated amides is described. 1-Bromo-1-fluoroalkenes (E/Z approximately 1:1), which are readily available starting materials, have been found to isomerize to high E/Z ratios after storage at -20 degrees C for 1 week or by photolysis at 254 nm. Since the (E)-isomers have been found to react faster than the corresponding (Z)-isomers at room temperature in Pd(0)-catalyzed reactions, the palladium-catalyzed carboalkoxylation of high E/Z 1-bromo-1-fluoroalkenes lead to a high Z/E (Z/E >/= 98:2) ratio of the alpha-fluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters. When 1-bromo-1-fluoroalkenes (E/Z approximately 1:1) were reacted with HCOOH/NBu(3)/Pd(II)/DMF, the (E)-isomer was selectively reduced, and the remaining (Z)-1-bromo-1-fluoroalkenes were recovered in essentially pure isomeric form. The resulting mixture of (Z)-1-bromo-1-fluoroalkenes and the reduced products underwent similar palladium-catalyzed carboalkoxylation reactions at 70 degrees C, and the (E)-alpha-fluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters were stereospecifically obtained. This methodology was also successfully applied for the stereospecific synthesis of (Z)- and (E)-alpha-fluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated amides: the palladium-catalyzed carboamidation reaction of high E/Z and (Z)-1-bromo-1-fluoroalkenes lead to pure (Z)- and (E)-alpha-fluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated amides, respectively.