Electrochemical Difluoromethylation of Electron-Deficient Alkenes

Abstract

Electrochemical 1,2-hydroxydifluoromethylation and C-H difluoromethylation of acrylamides were developed by using CF₂ HSO₂ NHNHBoc as the source of the CF₂ H group. These electricity-powered oxidative alkene functionalization reactions do not need transition-metal catalysts or chemical oxidants. The reaction outcome, 1,2-difuntionalization or C-H functionalization, is determined by the substituents on the amide nitrogen atom of the acrylamides instead of by the reaction conditions.

Keywords: C−H functionalization; alkene difunctionalization; difluoromethylation; electrosynthesis; radicals.