Does 以安倍的自民党为首的联盟 use the 以 ~ 为 pattern?
Yes, [以][安倍的自民党][为][首][的联盟] fits the pattern of [with][A] [as] [B] 

"首" is short for "首领", 

[A - 安倍的自民党] = [B - 首领]


'为'+'首(领)' simply means 'as leader' (preposition + noun)
'为首' as a set phrase, is a common adjective "leading/ top ranked" 


Example:

'在这次会议上, 为首官员是北京市长'-- 'In this meeting, the leading (top ranked) officer is Beijing mayor'