Fluoroalkyl Sulfoximines for Versatile Photocatalytic Radical Fluoroalkylations

Fluoroalkyl sulfoximines, which serve as electron-accepting fluoroalkyl radical sources, are easy-to-handle, solid, and bench-stable chemicals. Fluoroalkyl radicals can be generated from sulfoximine reagents using strong one-electron injectors, such as a highly reducing photoredox catalyst in the excited state. Our group has developed photocatalytic radical di- and mono-fluoromethylation and α-monofluoroalkylation of olefins with the corresponding fluoroalkyl sulfoximines. In this personal account, appropriate combinations of fluoroalkyl sulfoximines and photoredox catalysts, leading to successful radical fluoroalkylation, have been discussed.