Fluorinative Rearrangements of Substituted Phenylallenes Mediated by (Difluoroiodo)toluene: Synthesis of α-(Difluoromethyl)styrenes.

Phenylallenes undergo fluorinative rearrangement upon the action of (difluoroiodo)toluene in the presence of 20 mol % BF3 ⋅OEt2 to yield α-difluoromethyl styrenes. This unprecedented reaction was entirely chemoselective for the internal allene π bond, and showed remarkable regioselectivity during the fluorination event. Substituted phenylallenes, phenylallenes possessing both phenyl- and α-allenyl substituents, and diphenylallenes were investigated, and good functional-group compatibility was observed throughout. The ease with which allenes can be prepared on a large scale, and the operational simplicity of this reaction allowed us to rapidly access fluorine-containing building blocks that have not been accessed by conventional deoxyfluorination strategies.