Molar scale electrosynthesis of ethyl-2,2-difluoro-2-trimethylsilylacetate, a difluoromethylene building block precursor

Ethyl-2,2-difluoro-2-trimethylsilylacetate has been prepared by electrolysis of ethyl-2-chloro-2,2-difluoroacetate in one step, at a molar scale, in the presence of a large excess of chlorotrimethylsilane. The transfer of the ethyl-2,2-difluoroacetate moiety to various electrophiles has been achieved.