Photoredox Defluorinative Silylation of α-Trifluoromethyl Arylalkenes Using Silacarboxylic Acids as Silyl Radical Precursors

Abstract

A photoredox defluorinative silylation of α-trifluoromethyl arylalkenes for rapid access to useful gem-difluoroalkenes is disclosed. The stable and easily prepared silacarboxylic acids are used as the silyl radical precursors via a photocatalytic decarboxylative process. The mild conditions and operational simplicity make our method a straightforward strategy to construct gem-difluoroalkenes bearing various functional groups and a powerful strategy to incorporate gem-difluoroalkene moiety into natural products and drug molecules.