Deprotonative Functionalization of the Difluoromethyl Group.

The functionalization of 3-(difluoromethyl)pyridine has been developed via direct deprotonation of -CHF2 with a lithiated base and subsequent trapping with various electrophiles in THF. In situ quenching gives access to 3-pyridyl-CF2-SiMe2Ph as a new silylated compound, which can be postfunctionalized with a fluoride source to obtain a larger library of 3-(difluoroalkyl)pyridines that could not be accessed via direct deprotonation.