Photoredox-Catalyzed gem-Difluoromethylenation of Aliphatic Alcohols with 1,1-Difluoroalkenes to Access α,α-Difluoromethylene Ethers

Difunctionalization of gem-difluoroalkenes for amination and heteroarylation via metal-free photocatalysis

gem-Difluoroalkenes are widely used building blocks in fluorine chemistry. Herein, a metal-free photocatalytic amination and heteroarylation method of gem-difluoroalkenes with heteroaryl carboxylic acid oxime esters as substrates is reported. This environmentally benign reaction proceeds via radical-radical cross-coupling in energy-transfer-mediated photocatalysis and can be used in the rapid construction of heteroaryl difluoroethylamine scaffolds and late-stage modification of complex pharmaceutical structures.

Addition of Carboxylic Acids to gem-Difluoroalkenes for the Synthesis of gem-Difluoromethylenated Compounds

We herein describe a straightforward protocol for the synthesis of carboxylic esters containing a gem-difluoromethylene unit. Readily available carboxylic acids can act as nucleophiles to add regioselectively to tetrasubstituted or trisubstituted β,β-difluoroacrylates (formal hydroacetoxylation) for the construction of RCO2-CF2 bonds. Thermal conditions are sufficient without the use of catalysts or additives.