gem-Difluorination of Methylene­cyclo­propanes (MCPs) Featuring a Wagner–Meerwein Rearrangement: Synthesis of 2-Arylsubstituted gem-Difluorocyclobutanes

The geminal difluorocyclobutane core is a valuable structural element in medicinal chemistry. Strategies for gem-difluorocyclobutanes, especially the 2-substituted cases, are limiting and often suffer from harsh reaction conditions. Reported herein is a migratory gem-difluorination of aryl-substituted methylene­cycloproanes (MCPs) for the synthesis of 2-arylsubstituted gem-difluorocyclobutanes. Commercially available Selectfluor (F-TEDA-BF4) and Py·HF were used as the fluorine sources. The protocol proceeds via a Wagner–Meerwein rearrangement with mild reaction conditions, good functional group tolerance, and moderate to good yields. The product could be readily transformed to gem-difluorocyclobutane-containing carboxylic acid, amine, and alcohol, all of which are useful building blocks for biologically active molecule synthesis.