PhSCF 2 TMS was utilized as a useful gem-difluoromethylene building block for the synthesis of gem-difluoromethylenated spiro-γ-butyrolactones. The radical cyclization of γ-alkenyl-Innovation in Chemistry, 6844 γ-gem-difluoro(phenylsulfanyl)methyl-γ-butyrolactones provided gem-difluoromethylenated spiro-γ-butyrolactones.Scheme 1. Proposed synthetic route to gem-difluoromethylenated spiro-γ-butyrolactones. 6845 nesium bromide (5 equiv.) at -10°C for 0.5 h gave the expected product 3e (27 % yield) along with 7 (53 %) after lactonization. An improved yield of 3e (52 % yield) was achieved when the reaction with the Grignard reagent was performed at -78°C for 3 h. However, a significant amount of 7 was also isolated (31 % yield). In the presence of an additive, tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB, 5 equiv.), homoallylmagnesium bromide reacted with 4 at -78°C for 3 h to provide 3e (62 % yield) and 7 (23 % yield). [8] Under similar reaction conditions, compounds 8a and 7 were obtained in 58 and 29 % yields, respectively, from the reaction of 4 with 1-pentenylmagnesium bromide. The formation of 7 could be rationalized by competitive reduction of the intermediate 4A owing to a β-hydrogen transfer from the Grignard reagent during the reaction. Scheme 4. Preparation of 3e and 8a from phthalic anhydride.With compounds 3e and 8a in hand, we used them to prepare the alkenyl-substituted compounds 3f-h and 8b-e in good yields through olefin cross-metathesis, as summarized in Scheme 5. Except for 8e, the alkenyl-substituted compounds were obtained as mixtures of E and Z isomers with the E isomer as the major isomer.Scheme 5. Synthesis of 3f-h and 8b-e by olefin cross-metathesis of 3e and 8a with styrene derivatives. www.eurjoc.org