Metal-free visible-light-enabled vicinal trifluoromethyl dithiolation of unactivated alkenes

Abstract

The difunctionalization of alkenes involving trifluoromethylthio group (SCF3) for the conversion of versatile and readily available olefins into more structurally complex molecules has been greatly studied. However, the disproportionate dithiolation of alkene is unknown. Herein, a transition-metal-free protocol is presented for vicinal trifluoromethylthio-thiolation of unactivated alkenes via a radical process under mild condition with broad substrate scope and excellent tolerance.