Direct C–H difluoromethylenephosphonation of arenes and heteroarenes with bromodifluoromethyl phosphonate via visible-light photocatalysis

This communication reports a room temperature visible-light-driven protocol for the C-H difluoromethylenephosphonation of arenes and heteroarenes. Using commercially available diethyl bromodifluoromethyl phosphonate as a precursor of difluoromethyl radical, fac-Ir(ppy)3 as a photosensitizer and a 3 W blue LED as a light source, an array of aromatic compounds containing difluoromethylenephosphonyl groups were prepared directly from the corresponding arenes and heteroarenes in excellent to moderate yields.