Metal‐, Photocatalyst‐, Light‐ and Electrochemical‐Free C‐3 Trifluoromethylation of Quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones, Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines and 2H‐Indazoles

Abstract We report an efficient protocol for the synthesis of 3‐trifluoromethylquinoxalin‐2(1 H )‐ones, 3‐trifluoromethylimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines and 3‐(trifluoromethyl)‐2 H ‐indazoles under metal‐, photocatalyst‐, light‐ and electrochemical‐free conditions. The combination of Langlois’ reagent (sodium triflinate) with the oxidant (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 in DMSO: H 2 O (10 : 1) works as an efficient reagent system to promote this free radical trifluoromethylation reaction. The trifluoromethyl radical generated by the oxidation of sodium triflinate with (NH 4 ) 2 S 2 O 8 attacks on to the C‐3 position of quinoxalin‐2(1 H )‐ones, imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines and 2 H ‐indazoles; and the excess SO 4 •− completes the reaction furnishing their respective 3‐trifluoromethyl derivatives in very good to excellent yields. Radical scavenging experiments with (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl (TEMPO), butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT), and 1,1‐diphenylethylene also prove the participation of radical.