A method for nucleophilic difluoromethylation of reactive Michael acceptors, aldehydes, and azomethines is described. The reaction is performed using the readily available and air-stable reagent difluoromethylene phosphabetaine. The process involves interaction of an electrophilic substrate with in situ generated difluorinated phosphonium ylide followed by hydrolysis of the carbon-phosphorus bond under mild conditions.

A one-step protocol for the difluoromethylation of carboxylic acids is described. The reaction involves the interaction of intermediate acyl chlorides with in situ generated difluorinated phosphorus ylide PhP═CF. Aromatic acids can be selectively transformed within one step either to bis-difluoromethylated alcohols or to difluorinated ketones depending on the particular reaction conditions. For bulky α-branched carboxylic acids, only ketones are produced.

A combination of (bromodifluoromethyl)trimethylsilane (Me3SiCF2Br), triphenylphosphine, and DMPU serves as a source of difluorinated phosphorus ylide Ph3P═CF2 under mild conditions. The system was used to effect nucleophilic difluoromethylation of ketones and nitro alkenes. The reaction efficiency is believed to be associated with Lewis acidic activation of the substrates by a silylium species formed upon generation of the phosphorus ylide.