Reactions of CF3-enones with ethyl nitroacetate and nitromethane: synthesis of CF3-γ-nitroketones

Reactions of α,β-unsaturated CF3-ketones with nitromethane and ethyl nitroacetate have been investigated. We found that α,β-unsaturated trifluoromethylketones react with ethyl nitroacetate in the presence of calcinated potassium fluoride to form two classes of 1,4-conjugated addition products: CF3-γ-nitroketones and 6,6,6-trifluoro-2-nitro-5-oxohexanoates in nearly quantitative yields. The products obtained are precursors for CF3-pyrrolidine synthesis.