Direct Access to α,α-Difluoroacylated Arenes by Palladium-Catalyzed Carbonylation of (Hetero)Aryl Boronic Acid Derivatives.

A palladium-catalyzed carbonylative coupling of (hetero)aryl boronates or boronic acid salts with carbon monoxide and α-bromo-α,α-difluoroamides and bromo-α,α-difluoroesters is described herein. The method is useful for the synthesis of a diverse selection of (hetero)aryl α,α-difluoro-β-ketoamides and α,α-difluoro-β-ketoesters, which are useful building blocks for the generation of functionalized difluoroacylated and difluoroalkyl arenes. The method could be further extended to a one-pot protocol for the formation of difluoroacetophenones.