Fluorine effects in organocatalysis - asymmetric Brønsted acid assisted Lewis base catalysis for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated heterocycles exploiting the negative hyperconjugation of the CF3-group.

An efficient Brønsted acid assisted Lewis base catalysis protocol for the synthesis of enantiomerically pure trifluoromethylated dihydropyridazines starting from readily available hydrazones and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes has been developed. The reaction exhibits high tolerance towards many functional groups and is applicable to various aliphatic, aromatic and hetero-aromatic α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, and provides the products in good yields and with excellent enantioselectivities.