The simple and selective synthesis of 3-amino-2,2-difluorocarboxylic esters and difluoro-β-lactams using ethyl bromodifluoroacetate in the presence of rhodium catalyst

Treatment of imines (5) with ethyl bromodifluoroacetate (1) and Et2Zn in the presence of RhCl(PPh3)3 in anhydrous medium gave difluoro-β-lactams (7) in good to excellent yields, while 3-amino-2,2-difluorocarboxylic esters (6) were obtained in good yields by adding MgSO4·7H2O to the reaction medium.