Enantioselective Cu-Catalyzed Nucleophilic Addition of Fluorinated Reagents: C–C Bond Formation for the Synthesis of Chiral Vicinal Difluorides

Herein we described the first enantioselective Cu/sulfoxide phosphine (SOP) complex catalyzed nucleophilic addition of fluorinated enolates to gem-difluoroalkenes. The enantioenriched vicinal difluorides, containing a chiral tertiary fluoride and a fluoroalkene, were successfully afforded via C-C bond formation in good yields (up to 94% yield), high Z/E-selectivity (5:1 → 50:1 for Z-isomer), and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98.5:1.5 er). Utility of this approach was demonstrated by modification of complex biologically active compounds.