PREPARATION AND REACTION OF 2-CHLORO-3,3-DIFLUOROCYCLOPROPENYLZINC REAGENT

2-Chloro-3,3-difluorocyclopropenylzinc reagent 1, readily prepared by the direct reaction of 1-chloro-3,3-difluoro-2-iodocyclopropene with z inc powder in dimethylformamide-hexamethylphosphoric triamide co-solve nt, exhibits excellent stability at. room temperature in the absence o f oxygen and/or moisture. The reaction of this zinc reagent with a var iety of acyl and alkyl halides is found to be catalysed by copper(I) b romide and represents a convenient route to the synthesis of previousl y inaccessible substituted 3,3-difluorocyclopropenes.