Palladium-Catalyzed Stereoconvergent Formylation of (E/Z)-β-Bromo-β-fluorostyrenes: Straightforward Access to (Z)-α-Fluorocinnamic Aldehydes and (Z)-β-Fluorocinnamic Alcohols

We report here the stereoconvergent formylation of (E/Z)-β-bromo-β-fluorostyrene mixtures with carbon monoxide and sodium formate catalyzed by palladium. Optimization of reaction conditions leads to the corresponding pure (Z)-α-fluorocinnamaldehydes in good yields. The reaction was extended to styrenes bearing electro-attracting or electro-donating groups. The obtained α-fluoroaldehydes were smoothly reduced to the corresponding (Z)-β-fluorocinnamic alcohol by NaBH4. The reaction could be performed on functionalized substrates as demonstrated by the access to the glucoside of β-fluoroconiferyl alcohol, (Z)-β-fluoroconiferin, a strong inhibitor of lignin polymerization.