Efficient Cu-catalyzed atom transfer radical addition reactions of fluoroalkylsulfonyl chlorides with electron-deficient alkenes induced by visible light.

Fluoroalkylsulfonyl chlorides, R(f)SO2Cl, in which R(f)=CF3, C4F9, CF2H, CH2F, and CH2CF3, are used as a source of fluorinated radicals to add fluoroalkyl groups to electron-deficient, unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Photochemical conditions, using Cu mediation, are used to produce the respective α-chloro-β-fluoroalkylcarbonyl products in excellent yields through an atom transfer radical addition (ATRA) process. Facile nucleophilic replacement of the α-chloro substituent is shown to lead to further diverse functionalization of the products.