Sodium dithionite initiated addition of CF2Br2 to β-pinene and reactions of the adduct Synthesis and the reactivity of new 1,1-difluorodienes

Sodium dithionite effectively promotes the addition of dibromodifluoromethane to the exocyclic double bond of P-pinene. The reaction proceeded in a MeCN/H2O system to give almost quantitatively an adduct, 1-(2-bromo-2,2-difluoroethyl)-4-(2-bromoisopropyl)-cyclohexene, as the sole product. On treatment of the adduct with 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine elimination of HBr only from the (CH3)(2)CHBr group occurred to give a mixture of regioisomeric dienes, while treatment with 50% KOH under phase transfer catalysis conditions or with K2CO3 in DMF resulted in total dehydrobromination to give trienes possessing an exocyclic CH = CF2 group. Surprisingly, the main course of the reactions of the adduct with DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undece-7-ene) and also with t-BuOK in THF was elimination of HBr only from the CH2CF2Br group to afford 1-(2,2-difluorovinyl)-4-(2-bromoisopropyl)cyclohexene as the main product. Catalytic hydrogenation of the adduct followed by treatment with DBU afforded a conjugated diene, 1-(2,2-difluorovinyl)-4-isopropylcyclohexene. Compounds bearing the CH = CF2 group are new 1, 1 -difluorodienes which readily reacted with 4-phenyl-3H-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione to give cycloadducts, derivatives of triazolo[1,2-alpha]cinnoline. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.