Palladium-catalysed difluoroolefination of benzyl tosylates toward the synthesis of gem-difluoro-2-trifluromethyl styrene derivatives

Abstract

We have presented an efficient method to access gem-difluoro-2-trifluromethyl styrene derivatives via palladium catalysis. This method features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope and good product yields. Moreover, gram–scale reactions demonstrated the robustness and potential of this method. Control experiments revealed that the –CF₃ group was essential to the success of this transformation. Finally, the practicality of this method was successfully proven by three synthetic applications.