Thermolysis in refluxing diglyme generates difluorocarbene: Proc. Chem. Soc., 81 (1960); Tetrahedron, 25, 1219 (1969); Tetrahedron Lett., 1319 (1973). In triglyme at 165o, gave better results in comparison with most other difluorocarbene precursors in cyclopropanation of an enol ether: Tetrahedron, 46, 5213 (1990). In the presence of triphenyl- or tributylphosphine, the carbene is intercepted to give the difluoromethylenephosphorane, which can be used to convert aldehydes and ketones to 1,1-difluoroalkenes: Tetrahedron Lett., 1461 (1964); J. Org. Chem., 30, 1027, 2543 (1965); Org. Synth. Coll., 5, 390, 949 (1973).
