Nucleophilic difluoromethylation of carbonyl compounds using TMSCF2SO2Ph and Mg0-mediated desulfonylation

A new nucleophilic difluoromethylation chemistry using fluoride-induced (phenylsulfonyl)difluoromethylation with TMSCF2SO2Ph followed by the magnesium-metal-mediated desulfonylation has been achieved. This methodology is compatible with both enolizable and non-enolizable aldehydes and ketones and has special advantage in the case of enolizable aldehydes. The new efficient desulfonylation method is considered to be environmentally benign due to the absence of mercury.