Introducing difluoromethylene sulfonamide group via nucleophilic addition of difluoromethylene anion with aromatic aldehydes

A new fluorine-containing synthon, R1COCF2SO2R2 (2, R1, R2=morpholino, piperidino, etc.), was developed for the introduction of difluoromethylene sulfonamide or difluoromethylene group. Under different conditions, 2 reacted readily with aromatic aldehydes to give the corresponding difluoromethylene-containing alcohols or diols in moderate to good yields in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide. Difluoromethylene sulfonamide group was introduced into organic compounds directly for the first time by this method.