EtAlCl2 -Promoted Defluorinative Thiolation of α-Trifluoromethyl Alkenes

Abstract

Here, we report a EtAlCl2-promoted thiolation of trifluoromethyl alkenes, which leads to the complete substitution of all three fluorine atoms and affords trisubstituted products. Although the transformation proceeds through a three-step sequence, it maintains high efficiency and delivers the target product in good to excellent yields. Mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction initially forms a gem-difluoroalkene intermediate. The newly introduced thioether group then activates the remaining C-F bonds, thereby facilitating subsequent substitution to afford the trisubstituted products.