Electrochemical nickel-catalysed defluoroalkylation of gem-difluoroalkenes with alkyl halides

Abstract

Herein, a direct and efficient electrochemical method for the synthesis of monofluoroalkene products was promoted using gem-difluoroalkenes and unactivated alkyl halides as starting materials with a nickel catalyst. A plausible mechanism involving an alkyl radical intermediate was proposed based on detailed mechanistic studies. Accompanied by the advantages of electrochemistry, the broad substrate scope of primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl halides, and excellent functional group tolerance, as well as good Z-selectivity and late-stage modification of bio-relevant molecules made the established method greener and more economic, which could make it further applicable in organic synthesis and drug discovery.