Preparation of 1-aryl-2,2-difluoro enol esters via dehydrosulfonylation of α-(phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylated benzoates

1-Aryl-2,2-difluoro enol benzoates 4 has been prepared from α-(phenylsulfonyl)-difluoromethylated benzoates 3, which can be readily obtained from the reactions between simple aldehydes and PhSO2CF2H (or TMSCF2SO2Ph). 2,2-Difluoro enol esters 4 are relatively more stable compounds than 2,2-difluoro enol sily ethers, and they promise to act as interesting fluorinated building blocks for further elaborations.