A simple base mediated reaction of 2-trifluoromethyl-1,3-conjugated enynes with N-acetylated 2-aminomalonates was developed, which could deliver two distinct types of products depending on substrates, i.e. 4-trifluoromethyl pyrrolidine derivatives, or gem-difluoro-1,3-conjugated enyne derivatives. Various functionalized 4-(difluoromethylene)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines could be obtained in good yields via the gold(I)-catalysed 6-endo-dig cyclization of the corresponding gem-difluoro-1,3-conjugated enynes under mild conditions.

A highly efficient tandem hydroamination and cyclization reaction of 2-trifluoromethyl-1,3-enynes with primary amines leading to 4-trifluoromethyl-3-pyrrolines was developed by using AgNO3 as a catalyst under mild reaction conditions. This new method is compatible with alkyl, aryl, and allyl primary amines, representing an atom-economical protocol for the construction of 4-trifluoromethyl-3-pyrrolines for the first time.

A simple base-mediated tandem SN2′/SNV reaction of the readily available α-trifluoromethyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with N-tosylated 2-aminomalonates was developed, which provide an efficient access to functionalized tetrasubstituted 2-fluoro-2-pyrrolines in good to excellent yields. In contrast, simple 1,2-nucleophilic adducts were produced when α-trifluoromethyl styrenes were used.

Starting from commercially available aldehyde and chiral tert-butanesulfinamide, a series of chiral sulfinamide phosphines (Xiao-Phos) were synthesized via a two-step condensation-nucleophilic addition procedure. In most cases, nucleophilic addition of the N-tert-butanesulfinyl imine with diphenyl methyl phosphonic lithium showed high diastereoselectivity (d.r>20:1) with BF3 as additives. Following removal of the chiral auxilliary, an important class of ligands i.e chiral β-aminophosphines and its derivatives were obtained in high yields using this approach.

A straightforward and efficient approach to structurally diverse and synthetically useful ring-fluorinated 4H-pyrans via a simple base-mediated cascade reaction of readily available trifluoromethylated alkenes with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds was developed. The key events of this reaction involve two consecutive C–F substitutions under very mild conditions.

The IPrAuNTf2/HNTf2 co-catalyzed cyclization of N-(2-perfluoroalkyl-3-alkynyl) hydroxylamines produces pyrroles in moderate to excellent yield, whereas the AgOTf-catalyzed reaction affords cyclic nitrones in high yields.

A novel NIS-mediated oxidative cyclization of N-(2-trifluoromethyl-3-alkynyl)hydroxylamines is developed, which provides a facile access to 4-trifluoromethyl-5-acylisoxazoles in 33–91% yields. Various types of commonly used electrophilic halogen source such as ICl, I2, NIS, NBS and NCS at different temperatures in various solvents were investigated. It was found that the NIS acts as both an oxidant and an electrophile for the present sequential transformation. The scope, mechanism and application of this NIS-mediated domino reaction for further synthetic transformation were studied.

A novel NIS-mediated oxidative cyclization of N-(2-trifluoromethyl-3-alkynyl)hydroxylamines is developed, which provides a facile access to 4-trifluoromethyl-5-acylisoxazoles in 33–91% yields. Various types of commonly used electrophilic halogen source such as ICl, I2, NIS, NBS and NCS at different temperatures in various solvents were investigated. It was found that the NIS acts as both an oxidant and an electrophile for the present sequential transformation. The scope, mechanism and application of this NIS-mediated domino reaction for further synthetic transformation were studied.

A straightforward and efficient approach to structurally diverse and synthetically useful ring-fluorinated 4H-pyrans via a simple base-mediated cascade reaction of readily available trifluoromethylated alkenes with 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds was developed. The key events of this reaction involve two consecutive C–F substitutions under very mild conditions.

The IPrAuNTf2/HNTf2 co-catalyzed cyclization of N-(2-perfluoroalkyl-3-alkynyl) hydroxylamines produces pyrroles in moderate to excellent yield, whereas the AgOTf-catalyzed reaction affords cyclic nitrones in high yields.

A simple base-mediated tandem SN2′/SNV reaction of the readily available α-trifluoromethyl-α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with N-tosylated 2-aminomalonates was developed, which provide an efficient access to functionalized tetrasubstituted 2-fluoro-2-pyrrolines in good to excellent yields. In contrast, simple 1,2-nucleophilic adducts were produced when α-trifluoromethyl styrenes were used.

A simple base mediated reaction of 2-trifluoromethyl-1,3-conjugated enynes with N-acetylated 2-aminomalonates was developed, which could deliver two distinct types of products depending on substrates, i.e. 4-trifluoromethyl pyrrolidine derivatives, or gem-difluoro-1,3-conjugated enyne derivatives. Various functionalized 4-(difluoromethylene)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines could be obtained in good yields via the gold(I)-catalysed 6-endo-dig cyclization of the corresponding gem-difluoro-1,3-conjugated enynes under mild conditions.

A highly efficient tandem hydroamination and cyclization reaction of 2-trifluoromethyl-1,3-enynes with primary amines leading to 4-trifluoromethyl-3-pyrrolines was developed by using AgNO3 as a catalyst under mild reaction conditions. This new method is compatible with alkyl, aryl, and allyl primary amines, representing an atom-economical protocol for the construction of 4-trifluoromethyl-3-pyrrolines for the first time.