Copper-catalysed difluoroalkylation of aromatic aldehydes via a decarboxylation/aldol reaction

Abstract

A copper-catalysed tandem decarboxylation/aldol reaction of simple aromatic aldehydes with 2,2-difluoro-3-oxo-3-arylpropanoic acid has been developed under mild conditions. This method provides a new route for the direct one-pot synthesis of difluorinated aldols in moderate to good yields from simple substrates.