Reductive modification of difluoromethylene moiety in pentafluoropropionyl group

The reductive Mg-promoted defluorinative-silylation of 2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropiophenone readily produces the α-trifluoromethyl enol silyl ether, which then react with electrophiles to give a variety of 2-substituted-3,3,3-trifluoropropiophenones in excellent yields. The same protocol is applicable for the preparation of enol silyl ether of 3,3,3-trifluoropropiophenone. Fluoride ion catalyzed 1,2-desilylative-defluorination of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-trimethylsilyloxypropiophenone provided 3,3,3-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione in a good yield.