Reversal of the Regioselectivity of Iron‐Promoted Hydrogenation and Hydrohalogenation of gem‐Difluoroalkenes

Abstract The reaction regioselectivity of gem ‐difluoroalkenes is dependent on the intrinsic polarity. Thus, the reversal of the regioselectivity of the addition reaction of gem ‐difluoroalkenes remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we described an unprecedented reversal of regioselectivity of hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) to gem ‐difluoroalkenes triggered by Fe−H species for the formation of difluoroalkyl radicals. Hydrogenation of the in situ generated radicals gave difluoromethylated products. Mechanism experiments and theoretical studies revealed that the kinetic effect of the irreversible HAT process resulted in the reversal of the regioselectivity of this scenario, leading to the formation of a less stable α ‐difluoroalkyl radical regioisomer. On basis of this new reaction of gem ‐difluoroalkene, the iron‐promoted hydrohalogenation of gem ‐difluoroalkenes for the efficient synthesis of aliphatic chlorodifluoromethyl‐, bromodifluoromethyl‐ and iododifluoromethyl‐containing compounds was developed. Particularly, this novel hydrohalogenation of gem ‐difluoroalkenes provided an effect and large‐scale access to various iododifluoromethylated compounds of high value for synthetic application.