Direct Difluorination–Hydroxylation, Trifluorination, and C(sp2)–H Fluorination of Enamides

A direct double functionalization involving both difluorination and hydroxylation of enamides is reported. With the appropriate combination of an electrophilic fluorinating reagent and H2O, the most convenient and ecofriendly hydroxylating agent, the preparation of 3-(difluoroalkyl)-3-hydroxyisoindolin-1-ones was achieved under basic or Bronsted acidic conditions. Suitable conditions for trifluorination as well as C(sp2)–H fluorination were also identified. Subsequent asymmetric functionalization of the obtained gem-difluorinated products has also been demonstrated.