1,1-Difluoroethyl chloride (CH3CF2Cl), a novel difluoroalkylating reagent for 1,1-difluoroethylation of arylboronic acids

Abstract

1,1-Difluoroethylated aromatics are of great importance in medicinal chemistry and related fields. 1,1-Difluoroethyl chloride (CH3CF2Cl), a cheap and abundant industrial raw material, is viewed as an ideal 1,1-difluoroethylating reagent, but the direct introduction of the difluoroethyl (CF2CH3) group onto aromatic rings using CH3CF2Cl has not been successfully accomplished. Herein, we disclose a nickel-catalyzed 1,1-difluoroethylation of arylboronic acids with CH3CF2Cl for the synthesis of (1,1-difluoroethyl)arenes.