Recent advances in the applications of gem-difluoromethylene alkynes

As a special class of alkynes, gem-difluoromethylene alkynes exhibit a variety of fascinating properties due to the presence of the gem-difluoro substitution. This substitution highlights the distinctive fluorine effects in influencing the chemoselectivity of reactions. As a result, chemical scientists have shown great interest and enthusiasm for investigating their reactions. In this review, we briefly summarize recent advances in transition metal-catalysed reactions of gem-difluoromethylene alkynes with multiple reaction pathways. Their mechanistic studies and challenges will be highlighted. The purpose of this review is to provide illustrations of elegant gem-difluoromethylene alkynes and thereby elicit further interest among synthetic chemists in developing innovative transformations of gem-difluoromethylene alkynes.