Base-Dependent Divergent Carbodifluoroalkylation and Halodifluoroalkylation of Alkenes under Visible-Light Irradiation.

Organic molecules containing a difluoroalkyl group are valuable and versatile chemicals because of their unique physicochemical and biological properties. Accordingly, the development of efficient and practical difluoroalkylation for the preparation of these compounds is important and attractive. Herein, we demonstrate photoredox-catalyzed and base-dependent selective carbodifluoroalkylation and halodifluoroalkylation of alkenes using readily available 2-(allyloxy)arylaldehydes [or 2-(allylamino)arylaldehydes] and XCFCOOEt (or BrCFCONRR) as starting materials.