Palladium-catalyzed ring-opening defluorination of gem-difluorocyclopropanes: expedient synthesis of fluorinated 1,3-dienes and arenes

Abstract

A Pd/XPhos-catalyzed ring-opening defluorination protocol that converts gem-difluorocyclopropanes into fluorinated 1,3-dienes and arenes has been developed. 3,3-Dimethylallyl boronate functions as an activator to reduce the Pd(II) precatalyst to the active Pd(0) species, facilitating selective C–C/C–F bond cleavage and subsequent β-H elimination.