Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of α,α-Difluoromethylated and α-Fluoromethylated Tertiary Alcohols

The catalytic asymmetric synthesis of alpha,alpha-difluoromethylated tertiary alcohols is described, using an asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction. This protocol using either the AD-mix-alpha or AD-mix-beta allowed an easy access to these valuable fluorinated chiral building blocks, which have been obtained with excellent yields and er. In addition, the reaction was extended to the alpha-fluoromethylated analogues.