Solid-State Structure of a Bromo(difluoromethylenephosphonato)-cuprate -- a Key Intermediate for the Synthesis of α,α-Difluoromethylenephosphonates.

Many approaches to introduce the CF₂P(O)(OR)₂ unit into organic molecules make use of Cu^I-catalyzed couplings between organic halides and BrZnCF₂P(O)(OR)₂. Despite the great importance of this process for the synthesis of α,α-difluoromethylenephosphonates, the constitution and molecular structures of the organozinc precursor and the catalytically relevant copper/zinc complex are still unknown. Here we report on the isolation of these two species, their spectroscopic characterization, and the determination of their structure by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. First orienting experiments on the stability of the cuprate reagent in solution at room temperature as well as its reactivity towards allyl bromides were subsequently performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]