Cross-Coupling between Difluorocarbene and Carbene-Derived Intermediates Generated from Diazocompounds for the Synthesis of gem-Difluoroolefins

Cross-coupling between difluorocarbene and carbene-derived intermediates generated from diazocompounds was developed to give gem-difluoroolefins, which constitutes a fast practical pathway to achieve hindered gem-difluoroolefins. The cross-coupling between difluorocarbene and aryl diazoacetates proceeded smoothly in the presence of a copper source, whereas its coupling with diaryl diazomethanes occurred well under metal-free conditions. A mechanism involving a copper–difluorocarbene complex was proposed.