A novel organocatalytic olefinic carbon-sulfur bond forming reaction was developed. Under the catalysis of 10 mol% stable N-heterocyclic carbene, thiols undergo direct nucleophilic substitution reaction with gem-difluoroalkenes to produce α-fluorovinyl thioethers in high yields with excellent Z-selectivity. In this process, bases are not necessary.

An efficient electrochemical method for benzylic C­(sp3)–H bond oxidation has been developed. A variety of methylarenes, methylheteroarenes, and benzylic (hetero)­methylenes could be converted into the desired aryl aldehydes and aryl ketones in moderate to excellent yields in an undivided cell, using O2 as the oxygen source and lutidinium perchlorate as an electrolyte. On the basis of cyclic voltammetry studies, 18O labeling experiments, and radical trapping experiments, a possible single-electron transfer mechanism has been proposed for the electrooxidation reaction.

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