A new strategy for the synthesis of fluorinated 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones

A new family of 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones (DHPMs) bearing fluorinated substituents at C6 have been prepared from gem-difluorinated nitriles, alkyl 3-butenoates and iso(thio)cyanates. This novel Biginelli-type process relies on the γ-addition of the ester-derived enolate to fluorinated nitriles. A tandem nucleophilic addition aza-Michael reaction sequence completes the synthetic process.