Palladium-Catalyzed Difluoroalkylation of Isocyanides: Access to Difluoroalkylated Phenanthridine Derivatives

An efficient and general method for the synthesis of difluoroalkylated phenanthridine derivatives through palladium-catalyzed reaction of difluoroalkyl bromides with isocyanides is described. The reaction can also be extended to perfluoroalkyl iodides. Mechanistic studies reveal that a difluoroalkyl radical via a single-electron-transfer pathway is involved in the reaction.