A conceptually novel, high‐yielding, mono‐ or bis‐homologation was realized with lithium halocarbenoids and enables the one‐step, fully chemocontrolled assembly of a new class of quaternary trifluoromethyl aziridines. Trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides (TFAICs) act as convenient electrophilic platforms, enabling the addition of either one or two homologating elements by simply controlling the stoichiometry of the process. Mechanistic studies highlighted that the homologation event, carried out with two different carbenoids (LiCH 2 Cl and LiCH 2 F), leads to fluoromethyl analogues in which the first nucleophile is employed for constructing the cycle and the second for decorating the resulting molecular architecture.

A direct, single synthetic homologative transformation of halostannanes into mono- or di-substituted methyl analogues is documented. Critical for the success of the operation is the excellent nucleophilicity of carbenoid-like methyllithium reagents (LiCHXY, X, Y = halogen, OR, and CN): by simply individuating the reagents' substitution pattern, the desired functionalized fragment is delivered to the electrophile. The wide scope of the protocol is evidenced also in the case of analogous halogermanium compounds. The tandem homologation-quenching with nucleophiles and the use of α-chloroallyllithium is also discussed.

The selective formal insertion (homologation) of a carbon unit bridging the two trifluoroacetamidoyl chlorides (TFAICs) units is reported. The tactic is levered on a highly chemoselective homologation–metalation–acyl nucleophilic substitution sequence which precisely enables to assemble novel trifluoromethylated β‐diketiminates within a single synthetic operation. Unlike previous homologations conducted with LiCH2Cl furnishing aziridines, herein we exploit the unique capability of iodomethyllithium to act contemporaneously as a C1 source (homologating effect) and metalating agent. The mechanistic rationale grounded on experimental evidences supports the hypothesized proposal and, the structural analysis gathers key aspects of this class of valuable ligands in catalysis.

The selective transfer of diversely functionalized dihalomethyllithiums (LiCHBrCl, LiCHClI, LiCHBrI, LiCHCl 2 , LiCHBr 2 , LiCHFI) to Weinreb amides for preparing gem-dihaloketones in one synthetic operation is reported. The capability of these amides as acylating agents and, the wide availability of dihalomethanes as pronucleophiles, enable a straightforward route to the title compounds under full chemocontrol. No racemization phenomena were evidenced in the case of optically active materials. Additionally, tolerance to sensitive functional groups (esters, amides, halogens, olefins etc.) was uniformly noticed, thus making this conceptually intuitive strategy flexible and tunable by the operator.

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The selective formal insertion (homologation) of a carbon unit bridging the two trifluoroacetamidoyl chlorides (TFAICs) units is reported. The tactic is levered on a highly chemoselective homologation–metalation–acyl nucleophilic substitution sequence which precisely enables to assemble novel trifluoromethylated β‐diketiminates within a single synthetic operation. Unlike previous homologations conducted with LiCH2Cl furnishing aziridines, herein we exploit the unique capability of iodomethyllithium to act contemporaneously as a C1 source (homologating effect) and metalating agent. The mechanistic rationale grounded on experimental evidences supports the hypothesized proposal and, the structural analysis gathers key aspects of this class of valuable ligands in catalysis.

A modular strategy for preparing α-functionalized phosphorous-containing methyl-units.