α-fluorinated ethers as "exotic" entity in medicinal chemistry

After nitrogen, fluorine occupies the position of second favorite heteroelement in life science-oriented research. In contrast, the trifluoromethoxy group is still perhaps the least well understood fluorine substituent, although its occurrence has significantly increased in the recent years. Today, significant application areas for trifluoromethoxy substituted pharmaceuticals are in the field of analgesics, anesthetics, cardiovascular drugs, respiratory drugs, psychopharmacologic drugs, neurological drugs, gastrointestinal drugs and anti-infective therapeutics. The present review will give an overlook of its use in medicinal chemistry.