Oxidative Enantioselective α-Fluorination of Aliphatic Aldehydes Enabled by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalysis

Described is the first study on oxidative enantioselective -fluorination of simple aliphatic aldehydes enabled by N-heterocyclic carbene catalysis. N-fluorobis(phenyl)sulfonimide serves as a an oxidant and as an F source. The CF bond formation occurs directly at the position of simple aliphatic aldehydes, thus overcoming nontrivial challenges, such as competitive difluorination and nonfluorination, and proceeds with high to excellent enantioselectivities.