Dual gold and photoredox catalysis: visible light-mediated intermolecular atom transfer thiosulfonylation of alkenes

Regioselective difunctionalization of alkenes has attracted significant attention from synthetic chemists and has the advantage of introducing diverse functional groups into vicinal carbons of common alkene moieties in a single operation. Herein, we report an unprecedented intermolecular atom transfer thiosulfonylation reaction of alkenes by combining gold catalysis and visible-light photoredox catalysis. A trifluoromethylthio group (SCF3) and other functionalized thio groups together with a sulfonyl group were regioselectively introduced into alkenes in the most atom economical manner. A detailed mechanism study indicated that a synergistic combination of gold catalysis and photoredox catalysis is crucial for this reaction.