Work

Synthesis, Physicochemical Properties, and Computational Analysis of Tris(fluoromethyl)Alkyl Building Blocks

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT A concise and scalable synthesis of tris(fluoromethyl)alkyl‐building blocks (including amines, carboxylic acids, alcohols, and bromides) starting from commercially available 3,3‐bis(bromomethyl)oxetane is reported. Comprehensive physicochemical profiling of the corresponding amines and carboxylic acids (by measuring their p K a and Log P values), benchmarked against less fluorinated and nonfluorinated counterparts, showed that the tris(fluoromethyl)methyl ( β , β ′, β ′′‐trifluro‐ tert ‐butyl, (FCH 2 ) 3 C, TFTB) group mimics the electronic and polarity‐modulating properties of CF 3 and CF 3 CH 2 substituents despite substantially larger steric volume. Conformational analysis shows that the (FCH 2 ) 3 C group adopts a restricted set of low‐energy conformations governed by through‐space electrostatic interactions, with C═O···H─C and C─F···H─C contacts playing a crucial stabilizing role. Molecular electrostatic potential analysis rationalizes both the anomalous lipophilicity trends and the CF 3 ‐like polarity modulation of this group. Together, these data confirm the TFTB group as a valuable motif for isosteric replacement in drug design.

Source: Chemistry - A European Journal

DOI: 10.1002/chem.70736