Hydrodefluorination of N-acetylheptafluoro-2-naphthylamine by zinc in aqueous ammonia: Synthetic outcomes and mechanistic considerations

Abstract

Reduction of the N-acetyl derivatives of heptafluoro-2-naphthylamine and its less fluorinated analogues by zinc in aqueous NH3 has been investigated as a possible general and concise route to partially fluorinated N-(2-naphthyl)acetamides and, accordingly, 2-naphthylamines inaccessible by other ways. Quantum chemical calculations and CV measurement results have been used to discuss and justify the suggested reaction mechanism including two competing routes: fragmentation of a substrate radical anion and its complex with a zinc cation. © ARKAT-USA, Inc.