Visible light/copper catalysis enabled alkylation of silyl enol ethers with arylsulfonium salts.

An efficient protocol has been developed herein for the site-selective alkylation of silyl enol ethers with arylsulfonium salts giving access to valuable aryl alkyl thioethers under visible light conditions. Enabled by copper (I) photocatalysis, the C-S bond of arylsulfonium salts can be selectively cleaved to deliver C-centered radicals under mild conditions. This developed method provides a straightforward approach to utilize arylsulfonium salts as sulfur sources for the synthesis of aryl alkyl thioethers.