A diselenide additive enables photocatalytic hydroalkoxylation of gem-difluoroalkenes

Chem Commun (Camb). 2023 May 4;59(37):5623-5626. doi: 10.1039/d3cc01012k.

Abstract

A photocatalytic hydroalkoxylation reaction enables the coupling of aliphatic alcohols with gem-difluoroalkenes, expanding the scope of accessible α,α-difluorinated ethers, a desirable substructure for medicinal and agricultural chemists. This reaction exploits an uncommon diselenide co-catalyst to facilitate the net hydrofunctionalization process, which contrasts alternate single-electron reactions that deliver dioxidation products. Future use of this co-catalyst might enable other currently unknown photocatalytic reactions.