Visible-Light-Promoted Trifluoromethylthiolation and Trifluoromethylselenolation of 1,4-Dihydropyridines.

We report a metal-free trifluoromethylthiolation and trifluoromethylselenolation of 1,4-dihydropyridines with -(trifluoromethyl) 4-methylbenzenesulfonothioate and -(trifluoromethyl) 4-methylbenzenesulfonoselenoate under visible light irradiation. This transformation was tolerated with a wide range of functional groups and provided an alternative and green strategy for the synthesis of trifluoromethylthioesters and trifluoromethylselenoesters.