Acid-Catalyzed Hydrothiolation of gem-Difluorostyrenes to Access α,α-Difluoroalkylthioethers

The substitution of hydrogen atoms with fluorine in bioactive molecules can greatly impact physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic properties. However, current synthetic methods cannot readily access many fluorinated motifs, which impedes utilization of these groups. Thus, the development of new methods to introduce fluorinated functional groups is critical for developing the next generation of biological probes and therapeutic agents. The synthesis of one such substructure, the α,α-difluoroalkylthioether, typically requires specialized conditions that necessitate early-stage installation. A late-stage and convergent approach to access α,α-difluoroalkylthioethers could involve nucleophilic addition of thiols across gem-difluorostyrenes. Unfortunately, under basic conditions, nucleophilic addition to gem-difluorostyrenes generates an anionic intermediate that can undergo facile elimination of fluoride to generate α-fluorovinylthioethers. To overcome this decomposition, we herein exploit an acid-based catalyst system to facilitate simultaneous nucleophilic addition and protonation of the unstable intermediate. Ultimately, the optimized mild conditions afford the desired α,α-difluoroalkylthioethers in high selectivity and moderate to excellent yields. These α,α-difluoroalkylthioethers are less nucleophilic and more oxidatively stable relative to nonfluorinated thioethers, suggesting the potential application of this unexplored functional group in biological probes and therapeutic agents.