Decarboxylative Trifluoromethyithiolation Of Pyridylacetates

Decarboxylative trifluoromethyithiolation of lithium pyridylacetates was achieved using N-(trifluoromethylthio)benzenesulfonimide as the electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolation reagent. The reaction afforded the corresponding trifluoromethyl thioethers in good yield. Furthermore, the preparation of lithium pyridylacetates by saponification of the corresponding methyl esters and subsequent decarboxylative trifluoromethylthiolation were performed in a one-pot fashion.