Aromatic heterocyclic compounds containing one to four nitrogen atoms react with chlorodifluoromethane in the presence of concentrated aqueous sodium hydroxide and a catalyst, benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBAC) in dichloromethane or THF (phase- transfer catalysis, PTC) with formation of N-difluoromethyl substituted derivatives. The process takes place by reaction of N-anions from these heterocycles with difluorocarbene ...
