Triethylborane-mediated reactions of lithium enolates derived from chiral N-acyloxazolidinones with ethyl difluoroiodoacetate allows easy access to α-(ethoxycarbonyl)difluoromethylated carboximides with good diastereomeric excess (86->98%de). The stereochemistry of the (ethyoxycarbonyl)difluoromethylated carboximides indicates that the (ethoxycarbonyl)difluoromethyl radical generated from ethyl difluoroiodoacetate and triethylborane reacts preferentially on the si face of the lithium enolates.
The bromodifluoromethylation of lithium enolates of chiral N-acyloxazolidinones via the insertion of difluorocarbene proceeds with good diastereomeric excess (68–92% de).