Ex Situ Generation of Difluorodiazoethane (CF2HCHN2): Application in the Regioselective Synthesis of CF2H-Containing Pyrazoles.

A new method for the ex situ generation of difluorodiazoethane (CF2HCHN2) and a procedure for its efficient use in [3 + 2] cycloaddition with nitroolefins by the AcOH/O2 catalyst system were developed by using a simple two-chamber system. The method provides a facile and straightforward access to a series of 4-substituted 5-difluoromethyl-3-nitro-1H-pyrazoles that are of interest in medicinal chemistry. Interestingly, the key factor for the success of this method is the efficient preparation of CF2HCHN2 by an ex situ process.