Dual Photoredox/Nickel-Catalyzed Dehydrative Difluoroalkylation of Benzyl Alcohols for the Synthesis of Allylic gem-Difluorides

A photoredox/Lewis acid cooperative catalytic system has been developed for the construction of Cvinyl–CRf bonds through the dehydrative difluoroalkylation of benzyl alcohols. A variety of allylic gem-difluorides could be obtained in moderate yields with good to excellent E/Z selectivity. In addition, several control experiments have been explored, and a possible mechanism was proposed for this process.