A metal-free and regioselective approach to (Z)-β-fluorovinyl sulfones and their chemoselective hydrogenation to β-fluoroalkyl sulfones

Abstract A highly regioselective, metal-free hydrofluorination reaction of alkynyl sulfones was developed using TBAF—one of the cheapest and most commonly available fluoride sources. In addition, the reactivity of the resulting β-fluorovinyl sulfones was studied, focusing on their selective hydrogenation reaction. Both β-fluorovinyl sulfones and their hydrogenation products β-fluoroalkyl sulfones may find applications in medicinal and agrochemical sciences.