Synthesis of an allylic gem-difluoromethylene building block via radical-mediated difluorocyclopropane ring opening

We report an optimised and highly efficient synthetic route towards a valuable functionalised fluorinated building block. The key-steps include difluorocyclopropanation of a disubstituted alkene with a suitable difluorocarbene precursor, and a radical-induced cyclopropane ring-opening, operating via an iodide atom transfer reaction