Recent Advances and Uses of (Me₄N)XCF₃ (X=S, Se) in the Synthesis of Trifluoromethylthiolated and Trifluoromethylselenolated Compounds

Abstract

Abstract The introduction of trifluoromethylthio (SCF 3 ) and trifluoromethylseleno (SeCF 3 ) 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 (Me 4 N)SCF 3 and (Me 4 N)SeCF 3 , 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 (Me 4 N)XCF 3 (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.