Copper- and iron-catalyzed decarboxylative tri- and difluoromethylation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids with CF3SO2Na and (CF2HSO2)2Zn via a radical process.

A copper-catalyzed decarboxylative trifluoromethylation of various α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids by using a stable and inexpensive solid, sodium trifluoromethanesulfinate (CF(3)SO(2)Na, Langlois reagent), was developed. In addition, an iron-catalyzed difluoromethylation of aryl-substituted acrylic acids by using zinc difluoromethanesulfinate (DFMS, (CF(2)HSO(2))(2)Zn, Baran reagent) via a similar radical process was also achieved.