Recent Advances And Uses Of (Me4n)Xcf3 (X=S, Se) In The Synthesis Of Trifluoromethylthiolated And Trifluoromethylselenolated Compounds

The introduction of trifluoromethylthio (SCF3) and trifluoromethylseleno (SeCF3) substituents into organic molecules significantly improves the electron-withdrawing and lipophilic properties of their parent compounds. Therefore, a vast class of versatile reagents were employed to access the corresponding fluorine-containing compounds. Among them, tetramethylammonium salts, such as (Me4N)SCF3 and (Me4N)SeCF3, have been employed as practical and efficient non-metal reagents for developing efficient trifluoromethylthiolation and trifluoromethylselenolation in recent years. This Minireview systematically illustrates the application of (Me4N)XCF3 (X=S, Se) in the synthesis of trifluoromethylthiolated and trifluoromethylselenolated compounds, and its content is divided into two categories: transition-metal-catalyzed reactions, and transition-metal-free reactions.