We have reported that the reaction of ethyl bromodifluoroacetate (1) with alkenyl iodides in the presence of copper powder gives ethyl alkenyldifluoroacetates. As an extension of this reaction, reaction of 1 with Michael acceptors in the presence of copper powder was examined and found to give 1,4-addition products selectively, unless the acceptor has a group stabilizing a radical intermediate, such
Treatment of α,β-unsaturatedketones and fluoroalkyl halides with Et2Zn in the presence of RhCl(PPh3)3 gave novel reductive fluoroalkylation products at the α-position of α,β-unsaturatedketones in moderate to good yields. The rhodium hydride complex derived from Et2Zn and Rh catalyst seems to have played an important role in this reaction.