Visible light-induced thiocyanation of gem-difluorinated phosphonium salts

gem-Difluorinated phosphonium salts were generated from nitrones by methylation and reaction with (triphenylphosphonio)difluoroacetate. The phosphonium salts were subjected to visible light-induced phosphonium–thiocyanate exchange in the presence of ammonium thiocyanate, copper thiocyanate, and an iridium photocatalyst. The sequence of the reactions was performed in one pot affording thiocyanates attached to the difluoromethylene fragment.