Ligand-Less Iron-Catalyzed Aromatic Cross-Coupling Difluoromethylation of Grignard Reagents with Difluoroiodomethane

Iron-catalyzed cross-coupling difluoromethylations of the Grignard reagents with difluoroiodomethane provide various aromatic difluoromethyl products in good yields, not employing sterically demanding ligands. Difluoromethylations proceed within 30 min at −20 °C with 2.0 equiv of the Grignard reagents and FeCl3 or Fe(acac)3 (2.5 mol %). Mechanistic investigations clarify difluoromethyl radical intervention; Fe(0) ate is initially generated. Single-electron transfer from Fe(0) ate to difluoroiodomethane takes place. Recombination with aryl groups gives Ar-CF2Hs. The catalyst can be regenerated by the Grignard reagents.