Elemental sulfur enabled divergent synthesis of disulfides, diselenides and polythiophenes from β-CF3-1,3-enynes.

Divergent synthesis for precise constructions of cyclic unsymmetrical diaryl disulfides or diselenides and polythiophenes from CF 3 -containing 1,3-enynes and S 8 was developed when the ortho group is F, Cl, Br and NO 2 on aromatic rings. Meanwhile, disulfides (diselenides) were also quickly constructed when the ortho group is H. These transformations undergo cascade thiophene construction/selective C 3 -position thiolation process, featuring simple operations, divergent synthesis, broad substrate scope, readily available starting materials as well as valuable products. A novel plausible radical annulation process was proposed and validated by DFT calculations for the first time. A series of derivatizations about the thiophene (TBT) and disulfides were also well represented.