Silver-Mediated Oxidative Decarboxylative Trifluoromethylthiolation of Coumarin-3-carboxylic Acids

The introduction of trifluoromethylthio groups into organic compounds, in particular heterocycles, is important because of the prevalence of these structures in medicinally and agriculturally relevant molecules. Herein, the silver-mediated oxidative decarboxylative trifluoromethylthiolation of coumarin-3-carboxylic acids is reported. This methodology utilizes existing carboxylic acid functionalities for the direct conversion to CF₃S groups and results in a broad scope of 3-trifluoromethylthiolated coumarins, including analogues of natural products, in moderate to excellent yields.