Preparation of (Phenyldifluoromethyl)- and (Phenoxydifluoromethyl)-silanes by Magnesium-Promoted Carbon-Chlorine Bond Activation

Treatment of α-chloro-α,α-difluorotoluene and α-chloro-α,α-difluoroanisole with chlorotrimethylsilane in the presence of magnesium in DMF led to their corresponding trimethylsilyl derivatives. These compounds are able to transfer their fluorinated group to various electrophilic substrates (carbonyl compounds, disulfides, phenyl isocyanate).