Reactions of difluorocarbene with benzyl and alkylzinc halides leading to fluorinated organozinc species have been described. The generated α-difluorinated organozinc reagents are reasonably stable in solution and can be quenched with external electrophiles (iodine, bromine, proton), affording compounds containing the CF(2) fragment.

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 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.

In Wasser geht es besser: In situ erzeugte [Ru(O2CR)2(Aren)]‐Katalysatoren vermitteln eine effiziente direkte ortho‐Arylierung funktionalisierter Arene mit Chlorarenen oder Chlorheterocyclen in Wasser (siehe Schema; KOPiv=Kaliumpivalat), ohne dass ein Tensid benötigt wird. Die Aktivität dieser Katalysatoren ist in Wasser höher als in organischen Lösungsmitteln.

A method for the coupling of organozinc reagents, difluorocarbene, and allylic electrophiles is described. The reaction involves insertion of difluorocarbene into the carbon-zinc bond followed by copper-catalyzed allylic substitution.