Difluoromethylation of alcohols with TMSCF2Br in water: A new insight into the generation and reactions of difluorocarbene in a two-phase system

Abstract

Although many difluorocarbene-involved reactions can be performed in the presence of water, the reaction of difluorocarbene using water as the only reaction medium is rare. By using TMSCF2Br as a unique difluorocarbene reagent and KHF2 as a mild activator, the difluoromethylation of liquid alcohols in water is described. This research not only develops an environmentally benign process for the synthesis of difluoromethyl ethers, but also provides a new insight into the generation and reactions of difluorocarbene in an oil-water two-phase system.