Phenyl trifluorovinyl sulfide: a radical acceptor for preparation of gem-difluoromethylene compounds

Phenyl trifluorovinyl sulfide was prepared from the reaction of trifluorovinyllithium and S-phenyl benzenethiosulfonate. The fluorinated olefin showed reactivity with alkyl radicals generated from halogen-abstraction from alkyl halides. Reactions with alkyl halides required tris(trimethylsilyl)silane as a chain transfer reagent to improve selectivity of the products. Initiation of radical reaction was effected by thermal decomposition of AIBN. Oxidation of the thioether products gave the corresponding sulfoxides, which were successively converted into α,α-difluoroalkanecarboxylic acid thiol esters by Pummerer reaction.