Asymmetric Organocatalytic Benzylation to Construct Trifluoromethylthio-Containing Stereocenters

A series of benzyl trifluoromethyl sulfides bearing a nitro group were utilized as CF3S-containing building blocks to construct chiral CF3S-containing molecules via organocatalytic asymmetric allylic alkylation. In such reactions, good to high yields (up to 87%) and excellent stereoselectivity (up to 99% ee, >20:1 dr) were obtained using chiral Lewis base catalysts.