Rh-catalyzed intramolecular sp2 C-H bond difluoromethylenation
A new Rh-catalyzed intramolecular coupling reaction of a CF2Br group with a 2-aryl of indole or pyrrole via C-H bond activation is presented. This reaction represents a new way of incorporating difluoromethylene groups into organic compounds. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that this reaction might not occur via a conventional free radical pathway. The Royal Society of Chemistry 2012.