Silver-mediated radical cascade trifluoromethylthiolation/cyclization of benzimidazole derivatives with AgSCF3

Abstract

A silver-mediated cascade trifluoromethylthiolation/cyclization of unactivated alkenes has been investigated. This strategy employs AgSCF₃ as the trifluoromethylthiolating reagent to obtain a variety of useful trifluoromethylthiolated tricyclic imidazol derivatives in reasonable yields. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the present reaction takes place via a radical process. This method is distinguished by its atom economy, wide functional group compatibility, operational simplicity and product diversity.