Exploring the effects of trifluoromethyl group in the design of organocatalysts, enzyme inhibitors and in the conformational control of saturated nitrogen-containing heterocycles

The fluoroalkyl group plays an important role in the design of novel pharmacologically active agents since its introduction into organic compounds often leads to improved potency, stability and activity. Herein we wish to report an application of fluoroalkyl ketimines in decarboxylative Mannich reaction with a focus on the chemistry of unprotected NH-ketimines and heterocyclic ketimines. This study addresses the influence of the N-unprotected form of the ketimine function on the efficiency and selectivity of decarboxylative addition of malonic acid and its derivatives. The methods developed provide straightforward access to a range of valuable fluoroalkyl -amino acids and their derivatives promising as novel organofluorine building blocks.