Difluoromethylene phosphabetaine as an equivalent of difluoromethyl carbanion
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Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Preparation and Reactivity of a Triphosphenium Bromide Salt: A Convenient and Stable Source of PhosphorusI
Published on: November 22, 2016
Vitalij V Levin1, Alexey L Trifonov, Artem A Zemtsov
1N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry , Leninsky prosp. 47, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation.
Abstract:
A method for nucleophilic difluoromethylation of reactive Michael acceptors, aldehydes, and azomethines is described. The reaction is performed using the readily available and air-stable reagent difluoromethylene phosphabetaine. The process involves interaction of an electrophilic substrate with in situ generated difluorinated phosphonium ylide followed by hydrolysis of the carbon-phosphorus bond under mild conditions.
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