Difluoromethyl Phenyl Sulfone as a Selective Difluoromethylene Dianion Equivalent: One‐Pot Stereoselective Synthesis of anti‐2,2‐Difluoropropane‐1,3‐diols

Intramolecular charge–charge repulsion rather than traditional steric control is responsible for the high diastereoselectivity (up to 94 % de) obtained in tBuOK-induced difluoromethylenation of aldehydes 1 with difluoromethyl phenyl sulfone (2) to give symmetrical and unsymmetrical anti-2,2-difluoropropane-1,3-diols 3.