Lewis acid-promoted hydrofluorination of alkynyl sulfides to generate α-fluorovinyl thioethers

• Davide Bello and
• David O'Hagan

Beilstein J. Org. Chem. 2015, 11, 1902–1909, doi:10.3762/bjoc.11.205

• Davide Bello David O'Hagan University of St Andrews, School of Chemistry, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, UK 10.3762/bjoc.11.205 Abstract A new method for the preparation of α-fluorovinyl thioethers is reported which involves the hydrofluorination of alkynyl sulfides with 3HF·Et3N, a

• process that requires Lewis acid activation using BF3·Et2O and TiF4. The method gives access to a range of α-fluorovinyl thioethers, some in high stereoselectivity with the Z-isomer predominating over the E-isomer. The α-fluorovinyl thioether motif has prospects as a steric and electronic mimetic of

• thioester enols and enolates, important intermediates in enzymatic C–C bond forming reactions. The method opens access to appropriate analogues for investigations in this direction. Keywords: alkynyl sulfides; α-fluorovinyl thioethers; hydrofluorination; Lewis acids; organofluorine; Introduction