One-Pot Synthesis of Difluoromethyl Thioethers from Thiourea and Diethyl Bromodifluoromethylphosphonate

A straightforward one-pot synthesis of difluoromethyl thioethers from thiourea and diethyl bromodifluoromethylphosphonate has been developed. Thiourea is a cheap and friendly sulfur reagent, while diethyl bromodifluoromethylphosphonate is a low-cost and stable difluorocarbene precursor. The strategy enabled the introduction of SCF2H moieties into indoles, pyrroles, and activated arenes and formed a number of difluoromethyl thioethers.