Nickel‐Catalyzed Stereo‐ and Enantioselective Cross‐Coupling of gem‐Difluoroalkenes with Carbon Electrophiles by C−F Bond Activation

Stereo‐ and enantioselective cross‐electrophile coupling involving C−F bond activation is reported. Treatment of gem‐difluoroalkenes with racemic benzyl electrophiles in the presence of a chiral nickel complex using B2pin2 as a stoichiometric reductant allows the construction of a C(sp2)−C(sp3) bond under mild conditions, affording a broad range of monofluoroalkenes bearing stereogenic allylic centers. Initial mechanistic studies indicate that a radical chain pathway may be operating, wherein the ester group in the gem‐difluoroalkene promotes C−F bond activation through oxidative addition to a Ni species.