Several new mono- and difluoromethylation reactions of cinnamic acids using an Eosin Y catalytic system are reported. An efficient alkene fluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids was accomplished under ambient temperature and metal-free conditions, with a wide range of functional group tolerance. A mechanism that involves a radical process is proposed for this reaction.

A cadmium sulfide quantum-dot-photocatalyzed C(sp 3 )ÀCl bond cleavage of ethyl chlorodifluoroacetate and cascade cyclization with unactivated olefins is described herein. This reaction provides a cost-efficient method for synthesizing a wide range of CF 2 -containing azaheterocycles from a variety of functionalized difluoromethyl chlorides. Furthermore, the results of a preliminary antiproliferative activity study indicate an in vitro antiproliferative activity superior to that of doxorubicin with IC 50 values of 1.140 mM on triple negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and 2.129 mM on lung (A549) carcinoma cells.

A cobaloxime-catalyzed photochemical synthesis of allyl monofluorides from styrenes is described herein. This method is characterized by mild reaction conditions, low-cost catalyst, and broad substrate scope. Furthermore, this convenient method will provide a facile synthesis toward novel monofluoroalkylated natural product and pharmaceutical derivatives. Mechanistic investigations indicate that a monofluoroalkyl radical is involved in the catalytic cycle.

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