“…We were concerned that the 2,5-difluorophenyl Grignard reagent might be unstable and would generate the corresponding benzyne. , A study of the formation and stability of this reagent, however, showed that it was fully formed within 1 h and is stable for up to 4 h at <−10 °C. While we were unconcerned with the stereochemical outcome of the addition reaction, it is interesting to note that transmetalation of the Grignard reagent with cerium resulted in a higher proportion of equatorial attack, leading to a 1:1.9 ratio of 4a and 4b , respectively…”