Pd/Cu‐Catalyzed Defluorinative Carbonylative Coupling of Aryl Iodides and gem ‐Difluoroalkenes: Efficient Synthesis of α‐Fluorochalcones

Abstract An unprecedented and challenging defluorinative carbonylation was achieved. Enabled by a Pd/Cu cooperative catalyst system, the first example of defluorinative carbonylative coupling has been established. With gem ‐difluoroalkenes and aryl iodides as the substrates, this methodology offers flexible and facile access to privileged α‐fluorochalcones under mild reaction conditions in moderate‐to‐excellent yields. Mechanistic studies indicated transmetalation between palladium and copper intermediates as a crucial step of the catalytic cycle.