Silver-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylation of difluoroacetates: efficient access to C–CF₂ bond formation

Abstract

A mild, versatile and efficient method for the silver(I)-catalyzed oxidative decarboxylative gem-difluoromethylenation has been developed. The radical cascade reaction comprises the addition of an oxidatively generated difluoromethylene radical to the isonitrile functionality and subsequent homolytic aromatic substitution. It provides a novel and efficient access to the C-CF2 bond formation.