Photochemical generation of difluoromethyl radicals having various functional groups and their highly regioselective addition to olefins and aromatic substitution

Difluoromethyl radicals bearing ester, phosphonate, nitrile, cyclic carbonate, and carbamate groups were generated by the photoinitiated S–CF2 bond cleavage of electrosynthesized α,α-difluorosulfides, and their addition to olefins and aromatic substitution were successfully carried out to provide the regioselective adducts and substitution products in moderate yields. The yields of substitution products increased by the addition of diphenyl diselenide and 2,4,6-trimethylpyridine.