Dual role of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate in the formation of fluorine-containing heteroaromatic compounds

Abstract

COOEt plays a dual role as a C1 synthon and a difluoroalkylating reagent for the first time. Mechanistic studies supported by DFT calculations suggest that a base plays an active role in the formation of the key intermediate isocyanides generated in situ from primary amines and difluorocarbene.