DABCO‐promoted Diaryl Thioether Formation by Metal‐catalyzed Coupling of Sodium Sulfinates and Aryl Iodides

Transition-Metal-Free Difunctionalization of Sulfur Nucleophiles

Efficient protocols for accessing iodo-substituted diaryl and aryl(vinyl) sulfides have been developed using iodonium salts as reactive electrophilic arylation and vinylation reagents. The reactions take place under transition-metal-free conditions, employing odorless and convenient sulfur reagents. A wide variety of functional groups are tolerated in the S-diarylation, enabling the regioselective late-stage application of several heterocycles and drug molecules under mild reaction conditions. A novel S-difunctionalization pathway was discovered using vinyliodonium salts, which proceeds under additive-free reaction conditions and grants excellent stereoselectivity in the synthesis of aryl(vinyl) sulfides. A one-pot strategy combining transition-metal-free diarylation and subsequent reduction provided facile access to electron-rich thioanilines and a direct synthesis of a potential drug candidate derivative. The retained iodo group allows a wide array of further synthetic transformations. Mechanistic insights were elucidated by isolating the key intermediate, and the relevant energy profile was substantiated by DFT calculations.

Homocouplings of Sodium Arenesulfinates: Selective Access to Symmetric Diaryl Sulfides and Diaryl Disulfides

Symmetrical diaryl sulfides and diaryl disulfides have been efficiently and selectively constructed via the homocoupling of sodium arenesulfinates. The selectivity of products relied on the different reaction systems: symmetrical diaryl sulfides were predominately obtained under the Pd(OAc)2 catalysis, whereas symmetrical diaryl sulfides were exclusively yielded in the presence of the reductive Fe/HCl system.

Metal-free photo-induced sulfidation of aryl iodide and other chalcogenation

A photo-induced C-S radical cross-coupling of aryl iodides and disulfides under transition-metal and external photosensitizer free conditions for the synthesis of aryl sulfides at room temperature has been presented, which features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, high efficiency, and good functional group compatibility. The developed methodology could be readily applied to forge C-S bond in the field of pharmaceutical and material science.

Copper-Catalyzed Synthesis of Functionalized Aryl Sulfonamides from Sodium Sulfinates in Green Solvents

Functionalized aryl sulfonamides are important building blocks in the pharmaceutical industry. A one-step synthesis catalyzed by a copper salt was developed using stable solid commodity chemicals in sulfolane or, alternatively, in green solvents such as γ-valerolactone, iPrOAc, or nBuOAc with acetic acid. The method tolerated diverse functional groups commonly presented in current medicines and drug intermediates. The mechanistic study showed a radical coupling pathway between the sulfonyl and anilinium radicals through the use of K₂S₂O₈ and copper catalyst, respectively.

Nickel-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Thioetherification of Carboxylic Acids with Thiols

A nickel-catalyzed decarbonylative thioetherification of carboxylic acids with thiols was developed. Under the reaction conditions, benzoic acids, cinnamic acids, and benzyl carboxylic acids coupled with various thiols including both aromatic and aliphatic ones produce the corresponding thioethers in up to 99% yields. Moreover, this reaction was applicable to the modification of bioactive molecules such as 3-methylflavone-8-carboxylic acid, probenecid, and flufenamic acid, and the synthesis of acaricide chlorbenside. These results well demonstrated the potential synthetic value of this new reaction in organic synthesis.

The journey of C–S bond formation from metal catalysis to electrocatalysis

This perspective describes the journey of C–S bond constructions starting from transition metal catalysis through oxidant catalysis, photocatalysis and very recently employed electrocatalysis by using various sulfur surrogates.

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of Aryl Trifluoromethyl Thioethers through Indirect Trifluoromethylthiolation of Sodium Arylsulfinate with TMSCF3

Herein, we report an indirect trifluoromethylthiolation of sodium arylsulfinates. This transition-metal-free reaction significantly provides an environmentally friendly and practical synthetic method for aryl trifluoromethyl thioethers using commercial Ruppert-Prakash reagent TMSCF₃. This approach is also a potential alternative to the current industrial production method owing to facile substrates, excellent functional group compatibility, and operational simplicity.

Chan-Lam-Type C-S Coupling Reaction by Sodium Aryl Sulfinates and Organoboron Compounds

A Chan-Lam-type C-S coupling reaction using sodium aryl sulfinates has been developed to provide diaryl thioethers in up to 92% yields in the presence of a copper catalyst and potassium sulfite. Both electron-rich and electron-poor sodium aryl sulfinates and diverse organoboron compounds were tolerated for the synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl thioethers and dithioethers. The mechanistic study suggested that potassium sulfite was involved in the deoxygenation of sulfinate through a radical process.

Visible-light-promoted E-selective synthesis of α-fluoro-β-arylalkenyl sulfides via the deoxygenation/isomerization process

Regioselective synthesis of α-fluoro-β-arylalkenyl sulfides has been established with gem-difluoroalkenes and sodium sulfinates in a transition-metal-free manner. A series of control experiments were executed to demonstrate thiol radicals and anions as the proposed intermediates. Notably, regioselective Z→E isomerization was achieved under green light irradiation in the absence of a photoinitiator.