Palladium-Catalyzed Benzodifluoroalkylation of Alkynes: A Route to Fluorine-Containing 1,1-Diarylethylenes

A palladium(0)-catalyzed three-component reaction of 2-iodo-2,2-difluoroacetophenones, alkynes and arylboronic acids is introduced for the synthesis of 1-benzoyldifluoromethyl-2,2-diphenylethylenes in good yields and with excellent stereoselectivity. The 1-benzoyldifluoromethyl-2,2-diphenylethylene products synthesized through a radical reaction process are versatile synthons for the construction of various fluorine-containing compounds, which have antiproliferative activity on human tumor cells.