Elaboration of a Lewis acid-free protocol for the alkylation of silicon-containing π-donors by β-arylthioalkyl chlorides

Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) was found to be a powerful electrophilic activator of covalent reagents. Due to this effect the title reaction was shown to proceed under mild conditions in the absence of any Lewis acid catalysts to give the respective products of C-alkylation in good to excellent yields.

Electrophilic activation is achieved using hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as a medium and an electrophilic driver.