Nickel-Catalyzed Homologation of Vinylidene Difluoride (CH 2 ═CF 2 ): Selective β-F vs β-H Elimination

Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) constitute the newest generation of fluorocarbon refrigerants and foam-blowing agents due to their reduced global warming potential vs their saturated analogues. To identify new synthetic routes to HFOs, we show that reactions of bulky Ni(0) phosphine and −NHC complexes with vinylidene difluoride (VF2) afford μ-fluoro-1,1,3-trifluorobut-3-enyl Ni complexes. Moreover, addition of triisopropylsilane allows for reductive elimination of the reduced product─2,4,4-trifluoro-1-butene─demonstrating the Ni-catalyzed hydrodefluorodimerization of VF2. Accompanying DFT calculations identify the T-shaped nickelacyclopentane intermediate that spontaneously undergoes selective intramolecular β-F ( vs β-H) elimination.