Reactions of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate in the presence of copper powder

We have examined the reaction of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate (1) in the presence of copper powder as a procedure for the synthesis of compounds containing a CF2 group. The complex formed in the above reaction reacted with vinyl or aryl iodides to give cross-coupling products, with Michael acceptors to give 1,4-addition products and with olefins to give radical addition products. The cross-coupling reaction was applied to the synthesis of 4,4-difluoro-α-tocopherol.