Fluorinated cyclopropanes: synthesis and chemistry of the aryl α,β,β-trifluorocyclopropane motif.

A general route to aryl α,β,β-trifluorocyclopropanes is reported and aryl oxidation gave the corresponding α,β,β-trifluorocyclopropane carboxylic acid. Reactions of the corresponding amides with phenol/thiophenol resulted in HF elimination and then conjugate addition. The partially fluorinated cyclopropane has a similar lipophilicity to -CF3 despite three carbon atoms, and it emerges as a novel motif for drug discovery.