Silver-catalyzed decarboxylative radical allylation of α,α-difluoroarylacetic acids for the construction of CF₂–allyl bonds

An efficient silver-catalyzed method of decarboxylative radical allylation of α,α-difluoroarylacetic acids to build CF₂–allyl bonds has been developed. Using allylsulfone as an allyl donor, α,α-difluorine substituted arylacetic acids bearing various functional groups are successfully allylated to access a series of 3-(α,α-difluorobenzyl)-1-propylene compounds in moderate to excellent yields in aqueous CH₃CN solution under the mild conditions. Experimental studies disclosed that the α-fluorine substitution of arylacetic acid has a great influence on free radical activity and reactivity.