Studies on sulfinato-dehalogenation: XII. Sodium dithionite-initiated addition of N,N-diethyliododifluoroacetamide to multiple bonds

N, N-deithyl-iododifluoroacetamide 1 reacted with alkenes, alkynes in aqueous acetonitrile solutions of sodium dithionite and sodium hydrogen carbonate at room temperature to give the corresponding adducts, thus constituting a new method for introducing the CF₂ group into organic molecules. Compound 1 reacted with conjugated olefins 2b, c to afford the iodine-free adducts 7b, c. The adducts 3d—f, from addition of 1 to alkenes 2d—f, could be converted into α,α-difluoro-γ-lactones 5d—f by treatment with silica gel. Compound 1 reacted with ethyl vinyl ether 2i to give aldehyde 8, and perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl iodides reacted similarly. A radical mechanism was proposed for the addition reaction. Under the same condition, N,N-diethyl-bromodifluoroacetamide produced only the corresponding sulfinate Et₂NC(O)CF₂SO₂Na.