Nickel-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Aryl Boronic Acids with CF₂Br₂: Access to Diaryldifloromethanes

Diaryldifluoromethanes are valuable structural motifs in medicinal chemistry because they can serve as bioisosteres for diaryl ether, methane, and ketone groups. However, synthetic approaches to these compounds remain limited, particularly those capable of constructing both C-C bonds of the difluoromethylene unit simultaneously. Herein, we developed a straightforward method for the synthesis of diaryldifluoromethanes via nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of arylboronic acids with difluorodibromomethane (CF₂Br₂). This protocol features mild reaction conditions, exhibits broad functional group tolerance, and employs readily available starting materials.