Pd-Catalyzed Transfer of Difluorocarbene

The
study of transition-metal difluorocarbene complex has long
been a subject of active investigation, but the transition-metal-catalyzed
transfer of difluorocarbene remains a significant challenge. The Pd-catalyzed
transfer of difluorocarbene is described to realize the coupling reaction
of boronic acids with difluorocarbene to give (difluoromethyl)­arenes
and -olefins. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the PdCF2 complex is an important intermediate for this transformation.
This complex is prone to trimerization without the presence of starting
materials.