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

Abstract A novel transition metal-free route for the direct trifluoromethylthiolation of electron-rich aromatics using CF 3 SO 2 Na in the presence of PhPCl 2 was developed. More specifically, PhPCl 2 was used as both a reducing and a chlorinating reagent for the first time in this CF 3 SO 2 Na-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.