Visible-light promoted cross-coupling of ethyl iododifluoroacetate with silyl enol ethers for the synthesis of β-fluoroenones via noncovalent interactions

Monofluoroalkene is an important motif in drug development as it serves as an ideal mimic of peptide amide bond. Herein, a visible light promoted cross-coupling of ethyl iododifluoroacetate with silyl enol ethers for the synthesis of β-fluoroenones is presented. The transformation was mediated by non-covalent interactions, in which solvent acts as an electron donor. This protocol can also be applied for the synthesis of α, β-polyfluoroenones. The advantages of this protocol are mild reaction conditions, excellent functional group tolerance, synthetic flexibility, and operational simplicity.