Research Projects

The trifluoromethyl group is a crucial component in agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and material science. It has numerous chemical and biological properties. However, since the discovery of 2-diazo-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (CF₃CHN₂), the compound has been less explored as a trifluoronating agent. In 2010, Morandi and Carreira established a protocol for in-situ generation of CF₃CHN₂, which has since garnered significant attention. There are no reports available that can synthesize pyrazole and triazole chemoselectively by simply changing reaction conditions. The group is currently working on bifunctional alkynylnitrile derivatives with alkyne and nitrile moieties in conjugation and established chemoselective [3+2] cycloaddition of alkynylnitriles with donor acceptor cyclopropanes. The project aims to investigate the reactivities of CF₃CHN₂ moiety with alkynylnitriles in the presence of other functional moieties. The team plans to explore metal or base as a catalyst for conducting the cycloaddition of CF₃CHN₂ with alkynylnitriles. They also aim to explore the reactivity of thiosulfonates, thio/oxo indole, and phosphine oxides with CF₃CHN₂. The synthesis of PhICF₃Cl, a bifunctional reagent with high potential for promoting various reactions, is being explored. The products will be further functionalized to obtain synthetically useful molecules. The chemistry of CF₃-λ³-iodane reagent will be further examined with 2-(phenylethynyl)aniline and DAC (Donor-Acceptor Cyclopropanes) to obtain trifluoromethyl substituted indole and 1,3-bifunctional moieties.