Well-Defined, Shelf-Stable (NHC)Ag(CF₂H) Complexes for Difluoromethylation

Abstract

The preparation of the thermally stable, well-defined NHC-ligated difluoromethylated silver complexes 1a,b is described. The complexes were fully characterized, and the structural assignments were ambiguously further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Reactions of [(SIPr)Ag(CF2H)] with a variety of activated electrophiles such as diaryliodonium salts, vinyl(aryl)iodonium salts, aryldiazonium salts, and acid chlorides in the presence or absence of CuI occurred smoothly at room temperature to generate difluoromethylated compounds in good to excellent yields.