From alkyl halides to alkyltrifluoromethyls using bromine trifluoride

Under the right conditions, bromine trifluoride can be a useful tool for generating new types of reactions and compounds. Thus, tris(methylthio)alkyl derivatives, easily prepared from the corresponding alkyl bromides, were converted to the corresponding RCHBrCF2SMe or RCHBrCF3 compounds. The bromine atom, however, could be easily reduced forming eventually R'CF2SMe or R'CF3. If desired, the bromine atom can serve as an entry for constructing terminal difluoroolefins.