Metal-Free Trifluoromethylthiolation of Arylazo Sulfones

J Org Chem. 2021 Jan 1;86(1):1292-1299. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.0c02669. Epub 2020 Dec 22.

Abstract

A visible-light-driven protocol for the synthesis of aryl trifluoromethyl thioethers under photocatalyst- and metal-free conditions has been pursued. The procedure exploits the peculiar properties of arylazo sulfones (having electron-rich or electron-poor substituents on the (hetero)aromatic ring) as photochemical precursors of aryl radicals and S-trifluoromethyl arylsulfonothioates as easy-to-handle trifluoromethylthiolating agents.