Radical Silyldifluoromethylation of Electron-Deficient Alkenes

A reaction
of bromo- and iododifluoromethyl-substituted silanes
with electron-deficient alkenes in the presence of an N-heterocyclic
carbene borane complex is described. The reaction is performed under
irradiation with light-emitting diodes and proceeds via a radical
chain mechanism. The resulting products, the functionalized silicon
reagents, can undergo chemoselective transformations involving either
the silyldifluoromethyl fragment or the functional group.