Diastereoselective Johnson-Corey-Chaykovsky trifluoroethylidenation

(2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl)diphenylsulfonium triflate was found to be an efficient ylide reagent for the Johnson-Corey-Chaykovsky reaction to afford trifluoromethyl epoxides, cyclopropanes and aziridines. Interestingly, excellent but different diastereoselectivity was observed for these transformations. Both trifluoromethyl epoxides and cyclopropanes were obtained with trans-selectivity, whereas aziridines were obtained with cis-selectivity.