Synthesis of 2‐(β‐Trifluoromethyl‐β‐arylethylthio)pyridine through DBU‐Mediated Regioselective Addition of Pyridine‐2(1H)‐thione Onto α‐(Trifluoromethyl)styrenes

Abstract

An efficient and practical method for the synthesis of (b‐trifluoromethyl‐b‐aryl)ethyl 2‐pyridyl thioethers via hydrothiolation of α‐(trifluoromethyl)styrenes with pyridine‐2(1H)‐thione were reported. The reaction proceeded smoothly and regioselectively in an anti‐Markovnikov manner with the assistance of DBU and afforded a variety of trifluoromethyl‐containing 2‑pyridyl thioethers in moderate to good yields.