The catalytic Mannich reaction of 1,1-difluoro-2-trialkyl(aryl)silyl-2-trimethyl-silyloxyethenes: preparation of beta-amino acid derivatives.

[reaction: see text] Catalytic Mannich reactions of 1,1-difluoro-2-trialkyl(aryl)silyl-2-trimethylsilyloxyethenes (3) with a variety of sulfonylimines were utilized for the preparation of alpha,alpha-difluoro-beta-amino acid derivatives (7). The influence of the Lewis acid on the reaction was examined. Methods for the conversion of alpha,alpha-difluoroacylsilanes to alpha,alpha-difluorocarboxylic acids were also explored.