The
synthesis of β-hydroxy-α,α-difluorosulfonamides
was achieved by reacting difluoromethanesulfonamides with KHMDS in
the presence of an aldehyde or ketone. The reaction exhibited a dramatic
counterion effect with KHMDS or NaHMDS usually giving excellent yields
in minutes, while lithium bases gave little or no product. Excellent
yields and high diastereomeric ratios were achieved with N
α-benzyl-N
α-phenylfluorenyl
(PhF)-protected chiral amino aldehydes derived from amino acids. Following
deprotection, a β-hydroxy-α,α-sulfonamide reacted
under peptide coupling and Mitsunobu conditions to furnish a peptidomimetic
in an excellent overall yield.