Visible light-promoted difluoromethylthiolation of cycloalkanols by C–C bond cleavage

Abstract

A mild and general methodology for the difluoromethylthiolation of cycloalkanols has been developed by employing N-difluoromethylthiophthalimide as the SCF₂H radical source, in combination with an acridinium-derived organo-photosensitizer, under redox-neutral conditions. This reaction protocol demonstrates high efficiency, scalability, and mild reaction conditions, thus presenting a green approach for the rapid synthesis of distal difluoromethylthiolated alkyl ketones that are challenging to be synthesized through alternative means.