Palladium-catalysed difluoroolefination of benzyl tosylates toward the synthesis of gem-difluoro-2-trifluromethyl styrene derivatives

We have presented an efficient method to access gem-difluoro-2-trifluromethyl styrene derivatives via palladium catalysis. This method features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope and good product yields. Moreover, gram-scale reactions demonstrated the robustness and potential of this method. Control experiments revealed that the -CF3 group was essential to the success of this transformation. Finally, the practicality of this method was successfully proven by three synthetic applications.