Sulfones Bearing Perfluorinated Pyridine Group: Synthesis and Photocatalytic Reaction with α‐(Trifluoromethyl)styrenes

Abstract A photocatalytic protocol for the reductive coupling of tetrafluoropyridyl‐substituted sulfones with α‐(trifluoromethyl)styrenes in the presence of zinc and sodium iodide is reported. Sulfones were obtained by oxidation of the corresponding sulfides catalyzed by molybdenum or ruthenium salts. A combination of sulfonyl fragment and electron depleting fluorinated pyridyl group is a key feature determined properties of these sulfones. Their propensity to undergo single electron reduction and to form electron donor‐acceptor complexes with N ‐arylamines were evaluated. Plausible pathways of fragmentation of radical anion generated after single electron reduction of sulfones were analyzed, and the pathway leading to the formation of the alkyl radical and the sulfinate anion was found preferable.