Sterically Controlled Cu-Catalyzed or Transition-Metal-Free Cross-Coupling of gem-Difluoroalkenes with Tertiary, Secondary, and Primary Alkyl Grignard Reagents.

A robust copper-catalyzed or transition-metal-free cross-coupling of gem-difluoroalkenes with tertiary, secondary, and primary alkyl Grignard reagents has been developed. Remarkably, the tertiary and secondary alkylation of gem-difluoroalkenes proceeded very smoothly in the presence of 25 mol % of CuCN or under transition-metal-free conditions, affording the tertiary and secondary alkyl-substituted fluoroalkenes in good to excellent yields with excellent Z stereoselectivity.