Metal-free photocatalytic intermolecular trifluoromethylation-gem-difluoroallylation of unactivated alkenes

An efficient, transition-metal-free, photocatalytic three-component trifluoromethylation-gem-difluoroallylation of unactivated alkenes has been achieved. This developed protocol employs the manageable Langlois' reagent (NaSO2CF3) as the CF3 radical source and alpha-trifluoromethyl alkene as the gem-difluoroalkenyl source in the presence of Fukuzumi acridinium salts as a photocatalyst. The transformation proceeds under mild reaction conditions with a variety of compatible alkenes and provides diverse trifluoromethyl-substituted gem-difluoroalkenes in moderate to good yields.