Synthesis of Fluoro 3(2H)-Furanones via a TFA-Catalyzed Dehydrofluorinative Cyclization of 2,2-Difluoro-3-hydroxy-1,4-diketones.

A TFA-catalyzed dehydrofluorinative cyclization of 2,2-difluoro-3-hydroxy-1,4-diketones has been developed in the presence of amines under mild conditions in which the difluorinated substrates are readily prepared according to our reported literature. This protocol provides a rapid construction of fluoro 3(2)-furanones in good to excellent yields with good functional group tolerance. Easy scale-up synthesis also shows a practical advantage.