Transition-metal-free direct trifluoromethylthiolation of electron-rich aromatics using CF3SO2Na in the presence of PhPCl2

A novel transition metal-free route for the direct trifluoromethylthiolation of electron-rich aromatics using CF3SO2Na in the presence of PhPCl2 was developed. More specifically, PhPCl2 was used as both a reducing and a chlorinating reagent for the first time in this CF3SO2Na-based trifluoromethylthiolation reaction. The absence of transition metals and the use of cheap and readily available reagents render this method an alternative and practical strategy for the trifluoromethylthiolation of electron-rich aromatics. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.