Selectivity in Rh-catalysis with gem-difluorinated cyclopropanes

Abstract

Small-ring chemistry is a fascinating field in organic chemistry. gem-Difluorinated cyclopropanes, a unique class of cyclopropanes, have garnered significant interest due to their intrinsic high reactivity. In this context, gem-difluorinated cyclopropanes have been extensively investigated as fluoroallylic synthons in Pd-catalyzed ring-opening/cross-coupling reactions for the synthesis of monofluoroalkenes with linear or branched selectivity. In contrast, Rh-catalysis has revealed diverse selectivity in the reaction of gem-difluorinated cyclopropanes, such as regioselectivity, enantioselectivity, and chemoselectivity. This feature article aims to summarize our efforts towards developing Rh-catalyzed reactions of gem-difluorinated cyclopropanes, briefly discussing the design, selectivity, reaction mechanisms and future research prospects.