A novel method for the synthesis of 2,2-diaryl-1,1-difluoroethenes

beta,beta-Difluoro-alpha-phenylvinylstannane 3 was prepared in 60% yield from the reaction of P,beta-difluoro-alpha-phenylvinylsulfone 2 with tributyltin hydride in refluxing benzene for 5 h. The cross-coupling reaction of 3 with aryl iodides bearing substituents such as proton, fluoro, chloro, bromo, methoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, and nitro on ortho, meta, para positions of the benzene ring in the presence of 10 mol % Pd(PPh(3))(4)/10 mol % CuI afforded the corresponding 2,2-diaryl-1,1-difluoroethenes 4 in 22-82% yields. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.