Sodium Sulfite-Involved Photocatalytic Radical Cascade Cyclization of 2-Isocyanoaryl Thioethers: Access to 2-CF2/CF3-Containing Benzothiazoles.

A visible-light-induced radical cascade cyclization of 2-isocyanoaryl thioethers for the synthesis of 2-CF2/CF3-containing benzothiazoles has been developed. Sodium sulfite can participate in the photocatalytic cycle as a reductant that efficiently transforms Ir4+ into Ir3+ to promote the fluoroalkylation under mild reaction conditions.