Direct Access to α,α-Difluoroacylated Arenes by Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylation of (Hetero)Aryl Boronic Acid Derivatives

A palladium-catalyzed carbonylative coupling of (hetero)aryl boronates or boronic acid salts with carbon monoxide and alpha-bromo-alpha,alpha-difluoroamides and bromo-alpha,alpha-difluoroesters is described herein. The method is useful for the synthesis of a diverse selection of (hetero) aryl alpha,alpha-difluoro-beta-ketoamides and alpha,alpha-difluoro-beta-ketoesters, which are useful building blocks for the generation of functionalized difluoroacylated and difluoroalkyl arenes. The method could be further extended to a one-pot protocol for the formation of difluoroacetophenones.