Synthesis of aryldifluoromethyl aryl ethers via nickel-catalyzed suzuki cross-coupling between aryloxydifluoromethyl bromides and boronic acids

Aryldifluoromethyl aryl ethers (ArCF2OAr’) are powerful structural motifs to improve druggability, however, their targeted synthesis remains challenging. Here, the authors report the efficient synthesis of ArCF2OAr’ motifs via nickel-catalyzed aryloxydifluoromethylation with arylboronic acids, and their application in the total synthesis of a difluoromethylated PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitor with enhanced antitumor efficacy over the non-fluoro congener.