Recent Progress on Direct Difluoromethylthiolation and Monofluoromethylthiolation

Abstract

Compounds bearing difluoromethylthio (SCF2H) and monofluoromethylthio (SCFH2) groups are potentially important targets in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical fields due to their unique physical and chemical properties. The traditional methods of synthesizing these two kinds of compounds are difluoromethylation and monofluoromethylation of sulfhydryl substrates. However, the limitation of sulfhydryl substrates also limited the application and development of such compounds. Thus, it is still highly desirable to develop new methods for difluoromethylthiolation and monofluoromethylthiolation as well as new types of difluoromethylthiolation and monofluoromethylthiolation reagents. The recent development of direct difluoromethylthiolation and monofluoromethylthiolation reactions is summarized, and the related mechanism are also discussed.