Trifluoromethylated ketones are useful building blocks for organic compounds with a trifluoromethyl group. A new and facile synthesis of ketones with a trifluoromethyl substituent in the α-position proceeds through a one-pot photoredox-catalyzed trifluoromethylation-oxidation sequence of aromatic alkenes. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) serves as a key and mild oxidant under these photocatalytic conditions. Furthermore, an iridium photocatalyst, fac[Ir(ppy)3 ] (ppy=2-phenylpyridine), turned out to be crucial for the present photoredox process.

We have developed a novel and simple protocol for the direct incorporation of a difluoromethyl (CF2H) group into alkenes by visible‐light‐driven photoredox catalysis. The use of fac‐[Ir(ppy)3] (ppy=2‐pyridylphenyl) photocatalyst and shelf‐stable Hu's reagent, N‐tosyl‐S‐difluoromethyl‐S‐phenylsulfoximine, as a CF2H source is the key to success. The well‐designed photoredox system achieves synthesis of not only β‐CF2H‐substituted alcohols but also ethers and an ester from alkenes through solvolytic processes. The present method allows a single‐step and regioselective formation of C(sp3)–CF2H and C(sp3)−O bonds from C=C moiety in alkenes, such as hydroxydifluoromethylation, regardless of terminal or internal alkenes. Moreover, this methodology tolerates a variety of functional groups.

Trifluoromethylative lactonization of both terminal and internal alkenoic acids by photoredox catalysis has been developed. The use of a Ru photocatalyst and Umemoto's reagent as a CF3 source is key in the present carbolactonization. This is the first example of a highly endo- and diastereoselective synthesis of CF3-substituted five-, six-, and seven-membered ring lactones from internal alkenoic acids.

A regio- and stereoselective synthesis of trifluoromethylated alkenes bearing four different substituents has been developed. Stereocontrolled sulfonyloxytrifluoromethylation of unsymmetric internal alkynes with an electrophilic CF3 reagent, namely the triflate salt of the Yagupol'skii-Umemoto reagent, in the presence of an Ir photoredox catalyst under visible-light irradiation afforded trifluoromethylalkenyl triflates with well-predictable stereochemistry resulting from anti addition of the trifluoromethyl and triflate groups. Subsequent palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings led to tetrasubstituted trifluoromethylated alkenes in a highly stereoselective manner. The present method is the first example of a facile one-pot synthesis of tetrasubstituted trifluoromethylated alkenes from simple alkynes.

A method for the preparation of aryl α,α-difluoroethyl thioethers (ArSCFCH) is reported and the synthesis approach is extended to aryl α,α-difluoroethyl oxygen ethers. Selected building blocks are further elaborated in cross-coupling reactions and are incorporated into analogues of established trifluoromethyl ether drugs. Conformations are explored and log P studies of these motifs indicate that they are significantly more polar than their trifluoromethyl ether analogues rendering them attractive for bioactives discovery.