A green and practical electrochemical method for the synthesis of C-3-sulfonated benzothiophenes from 2-alkynylthioanisoles and sodium sulfinates was developed under oxidant- and catalyst-free conditions. Moderate to good yields of sulfonated benzothiophenes bearing important and useful functional groups have been achieved at a constant current. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated a tandem radical addition–cyclization pathway. Moreover, the protocol is easy to scale up and exhibits good reaction efficiency.

A green and practical method for the synthesis of C-3 halogenated benzothiophenes and benzofurans from 2-alkynylthioanisoles or 2-alkynylanisoles and potassium halide was developed under transition-metal-and oxidant-free conditions, employing an assembled electrochemistry continuous-flow system. The carbon and platinum plates were used as the anode and cathode, respectively; KI or KBr not only served as a halogen source but also as an electrolyte. Moderate to good yields of C-3 halogenated benzothiophenes and benzofuran derivatives were obtained under constant current. Notably, the halogen could also be restored at the cathode to obtain C-3 dehalogenated benzothiophenes and benzofurans in high selectivity by adjusting the current and flow rate of the continuous-flow system. Moreover, this reaction could be easily scaled up with good efficiency in the continuousflow system, which presents major advantages over reactions in a traditional batch.

An efficient and green electrochemical N-ortho-selective difluoromethylation method of various quinoline and isoquinoline N-oxides has been developed. In this method, sodium difluoromethanesulfinate (HCF2SO2Na) was used as the source of the difluoromethyl moiety, and various N-ortho-selective difluoromethylation quinoline and isoquinoline N-oxides were obtained in good to excellent yields under a constant current. In addition, the reaction was easy to scale up and maintained a good yield. Preliminary mechanism studies suggested that the reaction undergoes a free-radical addition and hydrogen elimination pathway.

A novel and efficient approach for the highly selective C-2 difluoromethylation of indole derivatives was developed by using sodium difluoromethylsulfinate (HCF2SO2Na) as the source of difluoromethyl groups and a Cu(ii) complex as the catalyst.

The efficient and gentle ruthenium-catalyzed meta-selective CAr–H nitration of azole ring substituted arenes has been developed.