A new photoredox-active group was applied for the generation of fluorinated radicals from difluorostyrenes under blue light irradiation.

A method for the difluorohomologation of ketones accompanied by halogenation of a C-H bond is described. The reaction involves silylation, difluorocarbene addition using Me3SiCF2Br activated by a bromide ion, and halogenation of intermediate cyclopropanes with N-bromo- or N-iodosuccinimide. The whole process is performed without isolation of intermediates. The resulting α,α-difluoro-β-halo-substituted ketones can be readily converted into fluorine containing pyrazole derivatives and oxetanes.

A new silicon reagent, difluoro(trimethylsilyl)acetonitrile, was prepared by insertion of difluorocarbene into silyl cyanide. The obtained silane served as a good cyanodifluoromethylating reagent toward aldehydes, N-tosylimines, N-alkylimines, and enamines under basic or acidic conditions.

Nucleophilic fluoroalkylation reactions of imines and enamines with α-phenylthio, α-phenylsulfonyl, and α-diethylphosphoryl substituted fluorinated silanes have been investigated. The reactions are promoted by hydrofluoric acid generated in situ from potassium hydrodifluoride and trifluoroacetic acid. Sulfur reagents worked well with both imines and enamines, whereas phosphorus reagent efficiently coupled only with enamines.