Metal-free visible-light-enabled vicinal trifluoromethyl dithiolation of unactivated alkenes

Abstract

The difunctionalization of alkenes involving a trifluoromethylthio group (SCF3) for the conversion of versatile and readily available olefins into structurally more complex molecules has been successfully studied. However, the disproportionate dithiolation of alkenes is unknown. Herein, a transition-metal-free protocol is presented for the vicinal trifluoromethylthio–thiolation of unactivated alkenes via a radical process under mild conditions with a broad substrate scope and excellent tolerance.

Keywords

• alkenes
• difunctionalization
• metal-free
• photoredox
• trifluoromethylthiolation