β-Bromodifluoromethyl β-enaminoketones: versatile synthetic intermediates for synthesis of CF2-containing compounds

A series of N-aryl β-bromodifluoromethyl β-enaminoketones were regioselectively synthesized in good yield by the reaction of N-aryl bromodifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides with methyl ketones. β-Bromodifluoromethyl β-enaminoketones smoothly cyclized to give a novel class of cyclic (2,2-difluoro-5-phenyl-furan-3-ylidene)-aryl-amines under basic condition. An intramolecular halophilic substitution mechanism was proposed.