Lewis Acid-Catalyzed Ring-Opening Cross-Coupling Reaction of <i>gem</i>-Difluorinated Cyclopropanes Enabled by C–F Bond Activation

Abstract

<i>gem</i>-Difluorinated cyclopropanes have attracted wide research interest in organic synthesis due to their high reactivity. Herein, we report a Lewis acid-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of mono- and disubstituted <i>gem</i>-difluorinated cyclopropanes with nucleophiles. The formation of a fluoroallyl cation species triggered via the Lewis acid-assisted activation of the C-F bond is proposed in this transformation. The cation species is then trapped by the nucleophiles, including electron-rich arenes and allylsilanes, to deliver a series of fluoroallylic products in good yields. The reaction provides an alternative mode for using <i>gem</i>-difluorinated cyclopropanes as fluoroallyl surrogates.