Selective synthesis of poly-substituted fluorine-containing pyridines and dihydropyrimidines via cascade C-F bond cleavage protocol.

Fluorinated azaheterocycles are frequently found in pharmaceuticals, drug candidates, ligands for transition metal catalysts, and other molecular functional materials, so efficient methods for the synthesis of these compounds are of significant value. We herein describe a selective strategy for the synthesis of poly-substituted pyridines and fluoroalkyl dihydropyrimidines based on C-F bond breaking of the anionically activated fluoroalkyl group. An array of pyridines and dihydropyrimidines were prepared through this domino process in high yields under noble metal catalyst-free conditions, making this method a valuable supplement to azaheterocycle synthesis.