Visible-Light-Mediated Perfluoroalkylation/Thioetherification of [1.1.1]Propellane under Photocatalyst-Free Conditions

Perfluoroalkyl-functionalized bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP) derivatives have garnered significant attention in pharmaceuticals due to their special physicochemical property; however, establishing convenient synthetic protocols for these fluorinated molecular frameworks continues to present substantial methodological challenges. Herein, we report a photocatalyst and additive-free perfluoroalkylation/thioetherification of [1.1.1] propellane with disulfide ether and perfluoroalkyl iodines. Such a photochemistry methodology utilizing an electron donor-acceptor (EDA) complex offers a green and novel way to obtain various BCP derivatives containing perfluoroalkyl and thioether groups with good functional group tolerance.