Photoredox/Copper-Cocatalyzed Difluoromethylation of Benzylic Bromides with PPh <sub>3</sub> (CF <sub>2</sub> H) <sub>2</sub>
We describe a general copper/photoredox-cocatalyzed difluoromethylation of benzyl bromides using PPh<sub>3</sub>(CF<sub>2</sub>H)<sub>2</sub> as a reagent. This protocol exhibits a broad substrate scope, good yields, and high functional group compatibility. The Cu(I) species first activates the benzylic C-Br bond to form a benzyl radical and then scavenges a CF<sub>2</sub>H radical to form a Cu(III) species. The facile reductive elimination from the Cu(III) center enables the coupling of the CF<sub>2</sub>H radical with the C(sp<sup>3</sup>) fragment.
Authors
- Kaiteng Wang
- Hao Song (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1554-3759)
- Jingwen Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4324-7148)
- Le Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9854-1056)
- Yulong Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4495-8312)
- Xin-Hua Duan
- Shanben Yin
- Mingyou Hu
Institutions
- Shihezi University (CN)
- Centre for Sustainable Energy (GB)
- Sustainable Energy Systems (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Organic Letters
- Published
- 2026-01-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.5c04233
- Primary Topic
- Fluorine in Organic Chemistry
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00