General Defluoroalkylation of Trifluoromethylarenes with Both Electron-Donating and -Withdrawing Alkenes

The incorporation of gem-difluoromethylene units into organic molecules remains a formidable challenge. Conventional methodologies for constructing aryldifluoromethyl derivatives relied on the use of high-functional fluorinating regents under harsh conditions. Herein, we report general and efficient photoredox catalytic systems for defluoroalkylation of readily available trifluoromethylarenes through selective C–F cleavage to deliver gem-difluoromethyl radicals which proceed through reductive addition to both electron-donating and withdrawing alkenes under transition-metal free conditions. Mechanistic studies reveal that thiol serves as both photocatalyst and HAT reagent under visible light irradiation. This synergistic photocatalysis and HAT catalysis protocol exhibits ample and salient features such as high chemo- and regioselectivity, broad substrate scope, amenable gram-scale synthesis and late-stage modification of bioactive molecules.