Metal-free photocatalytic intermolecular trifluoromethylation-gem-difluoroallylation of unactivated alkenes

Abstract

An efficient, transition-metal-free, photocatalytic three-component trifluoromethylation-gem-difluoroallylation of unactivated alkenes has been achieved. This developed protocol employs the manageable Langlois’ reagent (NaSO₂CF₃) as the CF₃ radical source and α-trifluoromethyl alkene as the gem-difluoroalkenyl source in the presence of Fukuzumi acridinium salts as a photocatalyst. The transformation proceeds under mild reaction conditions with a variety of compatible alkenes and provides diverse trifluoromethyl-substituted gem-difluoroalkenes in moderate to good yields.