A Route to α-Fluoroalkyl Sulfides from α-Fluorodiaroylmethanes.

α,α-Difluorodiaroylmethane can be used as a nucleophilic difluoromethylation reagent for generating α-thioaryl-α,α-difluoroacetophenones (Ar(1)COCF2SAr) and difluoromethylthiolated arenes (ArSCF2H) under transition-metal-free conditions. The reaction selectivity is mainly dependent on temperature. The method has also been extended to the synthesis of α-thioaryl-α-monofluoroacetophenones using α-monofluorodibenzoylmethane. Moreover, the benzoyl cation derived from α,α-difluorodibenzoylmethane can react with nucleophiles to afford the desired products in a one-pot process.