Organocatalytic direct difluoromethylation of aldehydes and ketones with TMSCF2H

Abstract

An organic Lewis base promoted direct difluoromethylation reaction of carbonyl compounds with Me₃SiCF₂H has been studied. The Schwesinger's superbase can efficiently activate the Si–CF₂H bond and initiate the difluoromethylation of aldehydes and ketones under very mild conditions, producing difluoromethyl adducts in 42–99% yields.