Tandem defluorination/annulation of α-CF3 carbonyls with bis-nucleophiles: Stereodivergent synthesis of 2-alkylidene-1,3-heterocycles

A practical protocol for the stereodivergent synthesis of 2-alkylidene-1,3-N,X-heterocycles (X = O, S, NR) from the reactions of α-CF3 carbonyls and bis-nucleophiles has been developed under metal-free and ambient conditions. The reaction proceeds via the tandem defluorination of α-CF3 carbonyls followed by sequential nucleophilic substitution with two heteroatoms of bis-nucleophiles in a stereodivergent manner.