Synthesis and transformation of [difluro(phenylseleno)methyl]-trimethysilane

A novel and efficient strategy was developed to synthesize [difluro(phenylseleno)methyl]-trimethysilane (PhSeCF2-TMS), which was further utilized as a nucleophilic difluoromethylating reagent to incorporate the [difluro(phenylselen)methyl]-trimethysilane into carbonyl compounds in good yield. The resulting PhSeCF2-containg alcohols could be conveniently converted into corresponding difluoromethyl alcohols by a radical deselenylation.