Regioselective Synthesis of α,α-Difluorocyclopentanone Derivatives: Domino Nickel-Catalyzed Difluorocyclopropanation/Ring-Expansion Sequence of Silyl Dienol Ethers

Silyl dienol ethers prepared from alpha,beta-unsaturated ketones underwent nickel-catalyzed difluorocyclopropanation of the electron-rich alkene moiety with trimethylsilyl 2,2-difluoro-2-(fluorosulfonyl)acetate. The subsequent vinylcyclopropane cyclopentene rearrangement afforded silyl 5,5-difluorocyclopent-1-en-1-yl ethers in good yields. The obtained five-membered silyl enol ethers were demonstrated to be versatile intermediates for the synthesis of di- and monofluorinated cyclopentanones and cyclopentenones. A nickel difluorocarbene complex is proposed as a key intermediate in the difluorocyclopropanation.