Photocatalytic trifluoromethylthiolation

What is it about?

A photoredox-catalyzed trifluoromethylthiolation process of aromatic alkenes has been developed. A strongly reducing Ir photocatalyst and an electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolating reagent play key roles in the efficient generation of a trifluoromethansulfenyl radical (·SCF3). The well-designed photoredox system induces a single-step, regioselective installation of a CF3S and a hydroxy or an alkoxy group onto vicinal carbon atoms through redox-neutral processes. The present oxytrifluoromethylthiolation features mild reaction conditions without extra additives for the activation of the CF3S reagent, making the present protocol applicable to a wide variety of functionalized aromatic alkenes.

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