Transition-Metal-Free Controllable Single and Double Difluoromethylene Formal Insertions into C-H Bonds of Aldehydes with TMSCF2 Br.

We have developed a new strategy for controllable single and double difluoromethylene (CF2 ) formal insertions into C-H bonds of aldehydes with nearly full selectivity under transition-metal-free conditions. The key to the success of controllable CF2 insertions lies in the well-defined formation of 2,2-difluoroenolsilyl ether and 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorocyclopropanolsilyl ether intermediates using difluorocarbene reagent TMSCF2 Br (TMS=trimethylsilyl). These two intermediates can react with various electrophiles including proton sources and various halogenation reagents, allowing for the access to diverse arrays of ketones containing difluoromethylene (CF2 ) and tetrafluoroethylene (CF2 CF2 ) units. The first synthesis of relatively stable 2,2,3,3-tetrafluorocyclopropanolsilyl ethers has been achieved, which offers a new platform to explore other unknown chemical space.