Synthesis of <i>o</i>‑Methyl Trifluoromethyl Sulfide Substituted Benzophenones via 1,2-Difunctionalization of Aryne by Insertion into the C–C Bond

An efficient process for the preparation of valuable <i>o</i>-methyl trifluoromethyl sulfide substituted benzophenones has been developed. The transition-metal-free method features insertion of aryne into a C–C σ-bond under mild reaction conditions for the first time to achieve <i>ortho</i>-difunctionalized arenes containing a pharmaceutically important trifluoromethylthio functional group. A wide substrate scope has been demonstrated for the developed protocol