Tricomponent catalytic α,α-difluorination of acid chlorides.

The selective α,α-difluorination of carbonyl compounds remains a challenge in modern organic synthesis; current methods often incorporate stepwise processes and/or harsh conditions, providing unsatisfactory mixtures of mono- and difluorinated products. In this communication, a practical, mild, and one-pot method for the selective α,α-difluorination of readily available acid chlorides is reported in which three separate catalysts act synergistically to form products in outstanding selectivity and fair to excellent yields.