The nucleophilic aromatic substitutionreaction of pentafluorobenzene, methyl 2,3,4,5-tetrafluorobenzoic acid ester and 1,2,4,5-tetrafluorobenzene with substituted thiophenols showed good regioselectivity while pentafluorobenzene gave high yields. The computational results suggest that the specificity difference between polyfluorobenzenes originates from their electronic properties.
Regioselective C–S bond formation accomplished by copper-catalyzed regioselective C–F substitution of perfluoroarenes with aryl thioacetates or benzyl thioacetate
Practical and straightforward method for regioselective C-S bond formation accomplished by copper-catalyzed regioselective C-F substitution of electron-deficient perfluoroarenes with aryl thioacetates or benzyl thioacetate has been developed. Because of its high reaction efficiency, good chemoselectivity and regioselectivity, and excellent functional-group compatibility, this protocol provides a useful and operationally simple access to polyfluoroaryl thioethers used for drugs and material chemistry. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.