Rapid access to organic triflates based on flash generation of unstable sulfonium triflates in flow.

Flash (extremely fast) electrochemical generation of unstable arylbis(arylthio)sulfonium triflates [ArS(ArSSAr)] + [OTf] - that are unsuitable for accumulation in batch processes was achieved within 10 s in a divided-type flow electrochemcial reactor, enabling one-flow access to vinyl triflates, short-lived oxocarbenium triflates and glycosyl triflates.