Nucleophilic Difluoro(phenylsulfonimidoyl)methylation of Unactivated Alkyl Bromides with PhSO(NTBS)CF2H: Facile Entry intogem-Difluoroalkenes

An efficient nucleophilic difluoro(phenylsulfonimidoyl)methylation of unactivated primary alkyl bromides with PhSO(NTBS)CF2H has been developed. It is particularly remarkable that, when 1.5 equiv. of alkyl bromides are used, the substitution products are obtained in moderate to excellent yields. The prepared difluoro(phenylsulfonimidoyl)methylated alkanes can be readily transformed to gem-difluoroalkenes via base-mediated β-elimination reaction.