Institute of Innovative Research, 
Tokyo Institute of Technology.

2016.08.22

Press Release

Photocatalytic difluoromethylation of olefins: Simple synthesis of CF2H-containing organic molecules

Organofluorine compounds are important in the fields of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and functional materials, because incorporation of fluorine atoms into organic molecules frequently influences their medicinal actions as well as chemical and physical properties. In particular, difluoromethyl group (CF2H) is an intriguing structural motif, especially in medicinal chemistry, because it may provide a lipophilic hydrogen donor and act as bioisostere of alcohols and thiols.