{
  "abstract": "The activation of amines into thiocarbamoyl fluorides (TCarbFs) provides access to valuable nitrogen-based functionalities. However, their broader use has been hindered by the reliance on harsh reagents and conditions. Here we report a photochemical method for in situ generation of thiocarbonyl difluoride (TCF) from N-trifluoromethylthiophthalimide (Phth–SCF₃) using visible light and organic reductants. This strategy allows the synthesis of structurally complex azetidines from strained azabicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (ABBs). TCF-mediated ring opening followed by semipinacol rearrangement or nucleophilic additions enables direct access to spiro- and fluorinated TCarbF-azetidines in a single step. Mechanistic studies support a single-electron reduction pathway and rationalize the impact of the photocatalyst on the observed selectivity. The discovery offers a general platform for amine activation and addresses a long-standing gap in azetidine functionalization. The activation of amines into thiocarbamoyl fluorides provides access to valuable nitrogen-based functionalities. Here, the authors report a mild, photochemical method for in-situ generation of thiocarbonyl difluoride from N-trifluoromethylthiophthalimide using visible light and organic reductants, and apply this strategy to the synthesis of azetidines from strained azabicyclo[1.1.0]butanes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Ricardo I. Rodríguez"
    },
    {
      "name": "Julien Paut"
    },
    {
      "name": "Giona Armellin"
    },
    {
      "name": "Stefano Visentini"
    },
    {
      "name": "Gabriel Cormier"
    },
    {
      "name": "Federico Droghetti"
    },
    {
      "name": "Mirco Natali"
    },
    {
      "name": "Marco Bortolus"
    },
    {
      "name": "Giorgio Pelosi"
    },
    {
      "name": "Luca Dell' Amico"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cm0dv3ehb07wj.bib",
  "cited_by": 7,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-69464-3",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "cm0dv3ehb07wj",
  "issns": [
    "2041-1723",
    "2041-1723"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05651940v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.chim"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.chim.orga"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1605|Radical Photochemical Reactions"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7128600999",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.science/hal-05651940/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": "41673007",
  "published": "2026-11-03",
  "publisher": "Nature Publishing Group",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cm0dv3ehb07wj.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-03T12:20:19Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05651940",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.science/hal-05651940v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "hal:1.chim.orga",
      "subfield": "organic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Photochemical thiocarbonyl difluoride generation enables azetidine synthesis",
  "title_text": "Photochemical thiocarbonyl difluoride generation enables azetidine synthesis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-05T12:20:12Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/cm0dv3ehb07wj",
  "venue": "Nature Communications",
  "versions": []
}