Esterification of Carboxylic Acids with Difluoromethyl Diazomethane and Interrupted Esterification with Trifluoromethyl Diazomethane: A Fluorine Effect

Abstract

It is demonstrated that difluoromethyl diazomethane (HCF₂CHN₂) can react with a broad range of carboxylic acids. The reaction is convenient, operationally simple, mild, and tolerant of a variety of different functional groups. In sharp contrast, trifluoromethyl diazomethane (CF₃CHN₂) fails to react with carboxylic acids in most solvents, and in acetonitrile this reagent instead undergoes an interrupted esterification (a Mumm reaction) to yield N-trifluoroethyl imides. This striking example of the ability of a single F-for-H substitution to alter a reaction pathway was rationalized through a DFT study.