Copper-catalyzed trifluoromethyl thiolation--mild and efficient synthesis of trifluoromethyl thioethers

Mild-mannered sulfur: A general method for the synthesis of vinyl trifluoromethyl thioethers starting from readily available di-, tri-, and tetrasubstituted vinyl iodides was developed. A wide variety of substrates were applied in the reaction with CuSCF3 to give the corresponding products in high yields, within short reaction times, with retention of the initial E/Z isomer ratio. In addition, a copper-catalyzed trifluoromethyl thioether protocol has been also developed.