Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-methyl-1-arylpropan-1-amines as useful building blocks for SAR-studies

The first protocol for the asymmetric synthesis of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-methyl-1-arylpropan-1-amines which function as fluorinated surrogates for α-isopropylbenzylamines in SAR-studies is presented herein. Crucial for the successful synthesis was the application of a recently developed direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reaction of fluorinated amide for the key bond-forming step. The utility of this versatile protocol was demonstrated by the synthesis of fluorinated analogues of a T-type selective Ca²⁺ channel blocker and a prolylcarboxypeptidase inhibitor. The predominant conformation of their fluorinated analogues was investigated by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy which revealed a strong influence of a fluorine mediated gauche effect.