Stereoselective Synthesis of Fluorinated Triarylethenes

Significance

Fluorinated compounds are an increasingly important group of molecules owing to their application in pharmaceuticals. Hence, the stereoselective synthesis of fluorinated molecules presents a very valuable transformation. While the stereoselective synthesis of tetrasubstituted olefins is known but rare, the stereoselective synthesis of fluorinated olefins is not known at all. Described here is a protocol for the stereoselective formation of highly substituted ethenes with excellent diastereoselectivities. The reaction proceeds smoothly for a series of different aryl boronic acids with comparably high selectivity. The authors have proven the superiority of their protocol with a brief synthesis of panomifene.