Trifluoromethylthiolated molecules are an important class of biologically active compounds and potential drug candidates. Because of the lack of efficient synthetic methods, catalytic enantioselective construction of these molecules is rare and remains a challenge. To expand this field, we herein disclose a bifunctional selenide-catalyzed approach for the synthesis of various chiral trifluoromethylthiolated tetrahydronaphthalenes bearing an all-carbon quaternary stereocenter with gem-diaryl-tethered alkenes and alkynes by merging desymmetrization and trifluoromethylthiolation strategy. The products are obtained in high yields with excellent enantio- and diastereo-selectivities. This method can be applied to the desymmetrization and sulfenylation of diols as well. Computational studies reveal that selenide can activate the electrophilic reagent better than sulfide, confirming the higher efficiency of selenide catalysis in these reactions. On the basis of the theoretical calculations, an acid-derived anion-binding interaction is suggested to exist in the whole pathway and accounts for the observed high selectivities.

An unprecendented chiral sulfide catalyzed desymmetrizing enantioselective chlorination is disclosed. Various aryl‐tethered diolefins and diaryl‐tethered olefins afforded teralins and tricyclic hexahydrophenalene derivatives, respectively, bearing multiple stereogenic centers in high yields with excellent enantio‐ and diastereoselectivities. In contrast, the tertiary amine catalyst (DHQD)2PHAL led to a diastereomeric product. The products could be transformed into a variety of compounds, such as spiro‐N‐heterocycles.

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The reaction proceeds with the assistance of microwave heating in a mild base. Formaldehyde behaves as both a reductant (via a Cannizzaro process with isatin) and an electrophile.