Perfluoroalkylation of 2-mercaptoethanol as a key step for a new synthesis of perfluoroalkyl vinyl sulfides, sulfoxides and sulfones

We have developed a new method of perfluoroalkylation of thiols, using a mixture of sodium formate/sodium sulfite to generate a sulfoxylate radical anion. This method is compatible with alcoholic functionality and was applied to mercaptoethanol. The obtained compounds were transformed into perfluoroalkyl vinyl sulfides, sulfoxides and sulfones.