Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Atom Transfer Radical Addition of Iododifluoroacetate to Alkynyl Carboxylic Acids

The first example of copper-catalyzed decarboxylative atom transfer radical addition of alkynyl carboxylic acids has been developed with a readily available fluoroalkyl halide. This novel protocol has demonstrated a unique difunctionalization of nonterminal alkynes with a broad substrate scope and excellent functional-group tolerance. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the catalytic cycle was initiated by the attack of a difluoroalkyl radical to an in situ generated alkynylcopper species.