Late-stage trifluoromethylthiolation of benzylic C-H bonds

Wentao Xu, Wenliang Wang, Tao Liu, Jin Xie () and Chengjian Zhu ()
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Wentao Xu: Nanjing University
Wenliang Wang: Nanjing University
Tao Liu: Nanjing University
Jin Xie: Nanjing University
Chengjian Zhu: Nanjing University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The benzylic positions in drugs are sites that readily react with cytochrome P450 oxidases via single-electron oxidation. New synthetic methodologies to incorporate a fluoroalkyl group at the benzylic site are continually being developed, and in this paper, we report a metal-free and site-selective organophotoredox-catalyzed trifluoromethylthiolation of benzylic C-H bonds for a wide variety of alkyl arenes and heteroarenes. The precise and predictive regioselectivity among various C(sp3)-H bonds originates from an inner-sphere benzylic radical initiation mechanism, and avoids the use of external oxidants or hydrogen atom abstractors. Its practicality stems from the trifluoromethylthiolation of a series of drugs and complex organic molecules, which is overwhelmingly selective for benzyl groups. This operationally simple protocol can provide a general and practical access to structurally diverse benzylic trifluoromethyl sulfides produced from ubiquitous benzylic C-H bonds. Large scale trifluoromethylthiolation can be achieved with continuous flow photoredox technology.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12844-9

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