The large number of reagents which have been developed for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated compounds is a testament to the importance of the CF3 group as well as the associated synthetic challenge. Current state-of-the-art reagents for appending the CF3 functionality directly are highly effective; however, their use on preparative scale has minimal precedent, because they require multi-step synthesis for their preparation, and/or are prohibitively expensive for large scale application. For a scalable trifluoromethylation methodology, trifluoroacetic acid and its anhydride represent an attractive solution in terms of cost and availability; however, due to the exceedingly high oxidation potential of trifluoroacetate, previous endeavors to use this material as a CF3 source have required the use of highly forcing conditions. Here we report a strategy for the use of trifluoroacetic anhydride for a scalable and operationally simple trifluoromethylation reaction using pyridine N-oxide and photoredox catalysis to effect a facile decarboxylation to the CF3 radical.

Differential scanning calorimetry in dynamic and isothermal modes was used to study the cure kinetics of the commercial epoxy system Narmco 5208, whose main components are bis[4-(diglycidylamino)phenyljmethane and bis(4-aminophenyl) sulfone. The data were analyzed in terms of a new mechanistic approach described in the preceding paper. The treatment explicitly takes into account both the epoxideamine reactions and the subsequent etherification reaction. The kinetics can be completely described in terms of three rate constants, which obey the Arrhenius relationship. Excellent agreement with the experimental data is obtained if the etherification reaction is assumed to be first order with respect to the concentrations of epoxide groups, hydroxyl groups, and the tertiary amine groups formed in the epoxide-amine reaction. This model applies over the whole range of conversion up to the point where the resin vitrifies and the reaction becomes diffusion-controlled. The effect of the diffusion control is described very well by an approach based on simple equations proposed in the literature. Altogether, the model allows accurate prediction of the degree of conversion over the whole range of cure and over the temperature range 160-200°C , which covers the usual curing conditions. Although the rate constants derived are specific to Narmco 5208, the model itself is generally applicable to other epoxy amine systems.

SUMMARY The direct trifluoromethylation of (hetero)arenes is a process of high importance to the pharmaceutical industry. Many reagents exist for this purpose and have found widespread use in discovery efforts; however, the step-intensive preparation of these reagents and their corresponding cost have resulted in minimal use of these methods in large-scale applications. For the ready transition of direct trifluoromethylation methodologies to large-scale application, the further development of processes utilizing inexpensive CF3 sources available on a metric ton scale is highly desirable. We report the use of pyridine N-oxide derivatives in concert with trifluoroacetic anhydride to promote a high-yielding and scalable trifluoromethylation reaction. Key mechanistic insights include the observation of electron donor-acceptor complexes in solution as well as a high dependence on photon flux. These observations have culminated in the application of this chemistry on a kilogram scale, demonstrating the utility of this reagent combination for preparative applications.

Advances in drug potency and tailored therapeutics are promoting pharmaceutical manufacturing to transition from a traditional batch paradigm to more flexible continuous processing. Here we report the development of a multistep continuous-flow CGMP (current good manufacturing practices) process that produced 24 kilograms of prexasertib monolactate monohydrate suitable for use in human clinical trials. Eight continuous unit operations were conducted to produce the target at roughly 3 kilograms per day using small continuous reactors, extractors, evaporators, crystallizers, and filters in laboratory fume hoods. Success was enabled by advances in chemistry, engineering, analytical science, process modeling, and equipment design. Substantial technical and business drivers were identified, which merited the continuous process. The continuous process afforded improved performance and safety relative to batch processes and also improved containment of a highly potent compound.

Front-surface external reflection infrared spectroscopy was used to study a set of samples of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) corresponding to various states of order: highly amorphous, drawn at 80 °C to different draw ratios, and thermally crystallized under different conditions. Kramers-Kronig transformation provided high-quality spectra that included an accurate representation of the most intense bands in the spectrum, which are generally saturated or distorted in transmission and internal reflection spectra. Factor analysis indicated the presence of three principal components in the spectra, and by taking linear combinations of the three principal factors, it was possible to generate three distinct physically meaningful basis spectra designated G, TC, and TX. The G spectrum corresponds to a gauche conformation of the ethylene glycol moiety, which is predominant in the amorphous state, while the other two correspond to a trans glycol conformation. The TC spectrum corresponds to the true crystalline state of PET, in which the carbonyl groups are coplanar with and in an all trans arrangement with respect to the benzene rings. The TX spectrum, on the other hand, corresponds to a less ordered trans structure in which the peaks associated with the terephthaloyl moiety of the molecule resemble those observed for the amorphous phase, where the carbonyl groups are either noncoplanar or cis and trans with respect to the benzene rings. However, the TX spectrum is a major contributor in the spectra of the drawn samples. This indicates that drawing at 80 °C produces a structure in which gauche conformers are converted into extended trans sequences, but the terephthaloyl conformation remains rather disordered. In other words, the development of order involves two processes that do not necessarily occur simultaneously. This provides new insight into the nature of the widely reported "intermediate" phase in PET and into the complex behavior of some of the trans peaks in the infrared spectrum. Detailed analysis of the basis spectra, including curve fitting, has also made it possible to suggest more precise assignments for some of the bands in the IR spectrum.