Preparation and synthetic application of methyl β,β-difluoro-α-trimethylsilyloxyacrylate: a fluoride ion-promoted desilylative-defluorination route

Catalytic amount of TBAT (0.2 mol %) promoted desilylation and subsequent defluorination of ketene silyl acetal of methyl O-trimethylsilyltrifluorolactate, affording methyl β,β-difluoro-α-trimethylsilyloxyacrylate in 95% yield of which reaction with electrophiles provided methyl β-substituted-β,β-difluoropyruvate in good yields.