Synthesis and transformation of [difluoro(phenylseleno)methyl]- trimethylsilane.

[reaction: see text] A novel and efficient strategy was developed to synthesize [difluoro(phenylseleno)methyl]trimethylsilane (PhSeCF(2)TMS, 2), which was further utilized as a nucleophilic difluoromethylating reagent to incorporate the difluoro(phenylseleno)methyl (PhSeCF(2)) group into carbonyl compounds in good yields. The resulting PhSeCF(2)-containing alcohols 3 could be conveniently converted into corresponding difluoromethyl alcohols 4 by a radical deselenylation.