Stereospecific Synthesis of Tri- and Tetrasubstituted α-Fluoroacrylates by Mizoroki-Heck Reaction

Ligand-free, efficient, palladium-catalyzed Mizoroki-Heck reaction between methyl alpha-fluoroacrylate and arene or hetarene iodides is reported for the first time. The reaction is stereospecific and provides fair to quantitative yields of fluoroalkenes. The Mizoroki-Heck reaction starting from more hindered and usually reluctant trisubstituted acrylate, to access tetrasubstituted fluoroalkenes, is also reported. Finally, the use of a three-step synthesis sequence, including Mizoroki-Heck reaction, allows the synthesis of fluorinated analogues of therapeutic agents with high yield.