Copper-Catalyzed Oxidative Synthesis of 3-Aryl-5-fluoroalkyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-ones Using Perfluorocarboxylic Anhydride as a Reagent

Abstract

A copper-catalyzed oxidative annulation of sydnones with perfluorocarboxylic anhydride for the synthesis of 3-aryl-5-fluoroalkyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-ones is developed. A diverse array of 3-aryl-5-fluoroalkyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2(3H)-ones are prepared with good yields (>73 examples, yields up to 95%). The synthetic utility of the developed protocol was demonstrated by gram-scale synthesis, and the synthetic transformation to 1,2,4-triazol-3-one products. A mechanistic study suggests that the reaction proceeds via the extrusion of carbon dioxide to generate the hydrazide intermediate, which then undergoes intramolecular cyclization and oxidation.