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 β-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)2CHBr 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 CHCF2 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 CHCF2 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-α]cinnoline.