Selective trifluorination of alkyl aryl sulfides using IF5

In the reaction of IF₅ with alkyl aryl sulfides in heptane under reflux conditions, the arylthio group migrated once and three fluorine atoms were selectively introduced on the alkyl chain. In order to find the reason why the reaction stopped at the trifluorination step, we examined the oxidation potentials of the starting material, a reaction intermediate, and the product, and the time course of the reactions.