New approaches to side-chain fluorinated bioimidazoles: 4-alkynylimidazoles as substrates for fluorination

4-Alkynylimidazoles have been prepared and their behavior as substrates for “FBr” addition (NBS+Et3N·3HF) have been studied. Facile Markownikov addition to ethylnylimidazole 2 gave fluorobromoolefin 9a, a potential synthon for the 2-imidazolyl-2-fluoro-1-ethenyl moiety. Reaction of the lithium salt of 2 with diethyl oxalate produced imidazolylpropynoic ester 3b. However, because of the deactivating effect of the ester functionality, all attempts to carry out addition of “FBr” to 3b met with failure. Reduction of the ester gave the hydroxymethyl-substituted acetylene 4. Addition of “FBr” to this substrate and reductive removal of bromine from the product produced fluoroolefins 12, precursors to E- and Z-β-fluorourocanic acids. The same fluoroolefins can be used as intermediates in the synthesis of β-fluorohistidinols.