The transition metal-catalyzed direct activation of electrondeficient triple bonds was investigated by using the combinedelectron withdrawing effects of two fluorine atoms tomodulate the electronic density of the triple bond. With useof catalytic amounts of AgNO
3 (10 mol %) the synthesis ofsubstituted 3,3-difluoro-4,5-dihydrofurans from
gem-difluorohomopropargyl alcohols occurred in excellent NMR yields.Treatment of these dihydrofurans with SiO
2 or Pd/H
2 yieldedthe corresponding 3-fluorinated furans and 3,3-difluorotetrahydrofurans.