Metal-free Electrochemical Trifluoromethylation of Imidazole-Fused
Heterocycles with Trifluoromethyl Thianthrenium Triflate
Abstract
A novel and eco-friendly electrochemical activation of trifluoromethyl
thianthrenium triflate (TT–CF3+OTf−) for trifluoromethylation of
imidazole-fused heteroaromatic compounds was established. This method
involves the direct electrolysis of TT–CF3+OTf− without the requirement
of external oxidants or catalysts, aligning with the principles of green
chemistry. A wide range of imidazole-fused heteroaromatic compounds
including imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines and
benzo[d]imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles have been successfully
trifluoromethylated using this technique, exhibiting excellent
compatibility with various functional groups and a broad substrate
scope. Moreover, the method’s applicability for one-pot sequential
reactions enables the reduction of waste and resource consumption by
eliminating the need for intermediate purification steps.