A remarkable room temperature preparation of the trifluorovinylzinc reagent from HFC-134a. A cost-effective, high yield synthesis of α,β,β-trifluorostyrenes

The reaction of LDA (2.0 equiv.) with a THF solution of ZnCl2 (1.0 equiv.) and CF3CFH2 (HFC-134a) (1.2 equiv.) at 15–20°C gives a 73% yield of [F2CCFZnCl]. Addition of R-C6H4I and Pd(PPh3)4 at rt to 65°C gives 61–86% yield of R-C6H4CFCF2.