2-Trifluoromethyl-1,3-dithianylium triflate: a convenient ‘masked’ electrophilic pentafluoroethylation reagent

With 2-trifluoromethyl-1,3-dithianylium triflate for the first time the synthesis, isolation and full structural characterization of an α-perfluoroalkylcarbenium salt was achieved. The title compound can be easily obtained on a preparative scale. The thermally stable dithianylium salt in combination with fluorodesulfurization chemistry is a promising novel reagent for the electrophilic polyfluoroalkylation of organic substrates, demonstrated by the pentafluoroethylation of O-nucleophiles.