N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed fluorinated silyl-Reformatsky reaction of aldehydes with difluoro (trimethylsilyl) acetate

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have been employed as highly efficient organocatalysts for fluorinated silyl-Reformatsky reaction of carbonyl compounds. In the presence of 5-10 mol % NHC A, various aldehydes and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetophenone reacted with difluoro (trimethylsilyl) acetate to produce β-hydroxy gem-difluoro esters in 20-96% yields.

N-heterocyclic carbene-catalyzed fluorinated silyl-Reformatsky reaction of aldehydes and difluoro (trimethylsilyl) acetate.138