47. A Diselenide Additive Enables Photocatalytic Hydroalkoxylation of gem-Difluoroalkenes

Herrick, R. M.; Abd El-Gaber, M. K.; Rodriguez, L. G. C.; Altman, R. A.*

Chem. Commun. 2023, 59, 5623–5626.

A photocatalytic hydroalkoxylation reaction enables the coupling of aliphatic alcohols with gem-difluoroalkenes, expanding the scope of accessible α,α-difluorinated ethers, a desirable substructure for medicinal and agricultural chemists. This reaction exploits an uncommon diselenide co-catalyst to facilitate the net hydrofunctionalization process, which contrasts alternate single-electron reactions that deliver dioxidation products. Future use of this co-catalyst might enable other currently unknown photocatalytic reactions.