Protection of the 5- and 4''-secondary alcohols of avermectin B2a (I) with tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride (TBDMS-Cl) and Et3N in DMF-CH2Cl2 gave the bis(silylether) (II). Subsequent Swern oxidation of the C-23 hydroxyl group with DMSO and oxalyl chloride at -78 C furnished ketone (III).
The tertiary alcohol at position 7 of (III) was protected as the trimethylsilyl ether (V) with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (IV) in DMF (1). Then, the ketone carbonyl group was converted into the gem-difluoride (VI) by treatment with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride, and the silyl protecting groups of (VI) were finally removed using a solution of HF in pyridine-THF.