Reaction of carbonyl compounds with xenon difluoride in the presence of silicon tetrafluoride

Reaction of various carbonyl compounds with xenon difluoride in the presence of silicon tetrafluoride was investigated. Aromatic aldehyde, ketones, and α-ketoester react with xenon difluoride to give α,α-difluoroalkyl phenyl ethers. However, acid fluoride, ester, acid cyanide, α-ketocarboxylic acid, or thioester do not afford the corresponding products. In the case of cinnamaldehyde, fluorination was accompanied by intramolecular cyclization to afford fluorinated epoxide.