Difluoromethyl triflate (TfO-CHF
2) can be used as a reagent:
- In difluoromethylation reaction.
- To prepare difluoromethoxylated heterocycles by reacting with hydroxylated N-based heterocycles.
- To synthesize trifluoromethylated arenes by treating with diaryliodonium salts in the presence of copper and tetrabutylammonium difluorotriphenylsilicate (TBAT).
It allows for a simple method toward the preparation of difluoromethyl ethers and thioethers under basic conditions from alcohols and thiols. Difluoromethyl phenols can also be obtained in a single pot from boronic acids and C-H activation of arenes.
