Visible-light-induced oxytrifluoromethylthiolation of α-diazo esters

Abstract

A novel protocol for oxytrifluoromethylthiolation of α-diazo esters via a 2,3-sigmatropic rearrangement is described. Under mild, additive-free and catalyst-free conditions, this method provides a concise route to prepare highly functionalized trifluoromethylthiolated scaffolds, which exhibit promising bioactivity. Moreover, the unique properties of the trifluoromethylthio moiety in the substrates proved to be the key point in this transformation based on control experiments and a possible mechanism was proposed.