Stereospecific preparation of (Z)- and (E)-2,3-difluoro-3-stannylacrylic ester synthons and a new, efficient stereospecific route to (Z)- and (E)-2,3-difluoroacrylic esters.

[reaction: see text] The (Z)-2,3-difluoro-3-stannylacrylic ester is readily prepared from (Z)-1,2-difluorovinyltriethylsilane via stereospecific stannyl/silyl exchange with KF/(Bu3Sn)2O or Bu3SnCl in DMF at 70 degrees C. The corresponding (E)-2,3-difluoro-3-stannylacrylate is prepared by stereospecific carbonylation of (E)-1,2-difluorovinyl iodide followed by low temperature/in situ stannylation of the resultant (Z)-2,3-difluoroacrylic ester. With Cu(I) iodide and Pd(PPh3)4 catalysis, the (Z)- and (E)-stannylacrylate esters readily couple with aryl iodides and vinyl bromides, as well as 2-iodothiophene, at room temperature to stereospecifically produce the respective (E)- and (Z)-2,3-difluoro-3-aryl substituted acrylic esters or conjugated dienes in high yields.