Fig. 1. Development of a C–F bond activation strategy for the synthesis of benzophenone-type bioisosteres.

a Representative benzophenone core in drug design. b Replacement of benzophenone core with aryl difluoromethyl bicyclopentane scaffold. c C–F bond activation enables the synthesis of aryl difluoromethyl bicycloalkanes (this work). BCP bicyclopentane, PN N-anionic-based photocatalyst, H hydrogen atom donor, B borylation reagent.