We disclose a sustainable and versatile
synthetic strategy
for
the highly chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective hydrofunctionalizations
of ynamides, through its activation by a solvent, HFIP, to access
a wide variety of stereodefined ketene N,N, N,O, N,S, and N,Se acetals
in high yield at room temperature. The reaction proceeded through
the formation of the reactive keteniminium ion intermediate, formed
via protonation at the β-carbon of ynamide by HFIP, followed
by an attack of a nucleophile (syn-addition) at the
α-carbon. When ynamides are treated with only HFIP at room temperature,
the HFIP addition products of ynamides are formed in a 100% atom-economic
fashion; however, in the presence of a stronger N-/O-/S-/Se-based
nucleophile, the corresponding syn-hydroheterofunctionalized
products are formed. Notably, HFIP played multiple roles, such as
a reagent, in particular, a Brønsted acid, nucleophile, as well
as solvent. Interestingly, HFIP is found to be unique for this transformation.
Notably, this strategy is utilized for the late-stage functionalization
of several marketed drugs and natural products, and it also enables
the connection of two different drugs or a drug and a natural product
through chemical bonds. Significantly, HFIP was recovered after the
reaction and reused for consecutive reactions.