Preparation and Addition−Elimination Reactions of Benzyl α,β,β-Trifluoroacrylate. A New Stereoselective Approach to (Z)-β-Substituted α,β-Difluoroacrylates

Abstract

Benzyl alpha,beta,beta-trifluoroacrylate (1) was prepared in good yield via the reductive Br-F elimination of benzyl 2-bromo-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropanoate or the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of 1,2,2-trifluorovinylstannane with benzyl chloroformate. On treating 1 with various Grignard reagents or dialkylzinc reagents in the presence of copper(I) salt, the corresponding beta-substituted alpha,beta-difluoroacrylates were obtained in high yields with high Z-selectivity. Additionally, trialkylaluminum reagents were also found to be good nucleophiles, the corresponding addition-elimination products being afforded in good yields but with low stereoselectivity.