Reformatsky-type aldol reactions of 4-bromo-4,4-difluoroacetoacetate with aldehydes and ketones

In the presence of zinc and a catalytic amount of copper(I) chloride, 4-bromo-4,4-difluoroacetoacetate 4 reacted with a series of aromatic aldehydes and aryl alkyl ketones to give the corresponding δ-hydroxyl-γ,γ-difluoro-β-ketoesters 6 in good to excellent yields under mild conditions.