Copper catalyzed one-pot difluoroalkylation and lactonization of unsaturated carboxylic acids

gamma-Lactone is an important scaffold found in many natural products and biologically active compounds. A strategy for one-pot bi-functionalization of unsaturated carboxylic acids to afford difluoroalkylated -lactones using a Cu(i) catalyst has been reported. This protocol has the advantages of mild reaction conditions, a low-cost catalyst, and a broad substrate scope, which provides a convenient strategy for synthesizing various difluoroalkylated -lactones.