A direct and useful route to difluoroacylsilanes and difluoroacylstannanes and their potential for the generation of structurally diverse difluoroketones

Allyl trifluoroethyl ethers 2a–2d were prepared; each underwent efficient dehydrofluorination/metallation and trapping to afford a range of difluoroenol silanes and stannanes which rearranged easily and efficiently to the acyl metals. Fluoride-mediated benzylation and allylation of an acylsilane, and Stille coupling of the vinyl- and acyl-stannane were achieved in moderate to good yield.