Copper-Catalyzed Three-Component One-Pot Synthesis of Aryl Sulfides with Sulfur Powder under Aqueous Conditions

One Pot Synthesis of C3-Sulfurized Imidazolo [1,2-a] Pyridines

A facile and efficient annulation strategy was developed from easily accessible a-bromoketones, aminopyridines and benzazol, which afforded a series of imidazole [1,2-a]pyridine sulfides in moderate to good yields. The reaction involves the formation of C-N/C-S bond with the advantages of easy operation and wide substrates scope.

Expedient Synthesis of Alkyl and Aryl Thioethers Using Xanthates as Thiol-Free Reagents

Thioethers are critical in the fields of pharmaceuticals and organic synthesis, but most of the methods for synthesis alkyl thioethers employ foul-smelling thiols as starting materials or generate them as by-products. Additionally, most thiols are air-sensitive and are easily oxidized to produce disulfides under atmospheric conditions; thus, a novel method for synthesizing thioethers is necessary. This paper reports a simple, effective, green method for synthesizing dialkyl or alkyl aryl thioether derivatives using odorless, stable, low-cost ROCS2K as a thiol surrogate. This transformation offers a broad substrate scope and good functional group tolerance with excellent selectivity. The reaction likely proceeds via xanthate intermediates, which can be readily generated via the nucleophilic substitution of alkyl halides or aryl halides with ROCS2K under transition-metal-free and base-free conditions.

Iodophor-Catalyzed Disulfenylation of Amino Naphthalenes with Aryl Sulfonyl Hydrazines

An iodophor-catalyzed direct disulfenylation of amino naphthalenes with aryl sulfonyl hydrazines in water was developed. A series of aryl sulfides were obtained in moderate to excellent yields. The advantages of this green protocol were the simple reaction conditions (metal-free, water as the solvent, under air), the odorless and easily available sulfur reagent, the broad substrate scope, and gram-scale synthesis. Moreover, the potential application of aryl sulfides was exemplified by further transformations.

I2/DMSO-Promoted Synthesis of Diaryl Sulfide- and Selenide-Embedded Arylhydrazones

Functionalization and derivatization of arylhydrazones are important in pharmaceutical, medicinal, material, and coordination chemistry. In this regard, a facile I₂/DMSO-promoted cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) for direct sulfenylation and selenylation of arylhydrazones has been accomplished utilizing arylthiols/arylselenols at 80 °C. This method provides a metal-free benign route for the synthesis of a variety of arylhydrazones embedded with diverse diaryl sulfide and selenide moieties in good to excellent yield. In this reaction, molecular I₂ acts as a catalyst, and DMSO is utilized as a mild oxidant as well as solvent to produce several sulfenyl and selenyl arylhydrazones through a CDC-mediated catalytic cycle.

Synthesis of Asymmetric Diaryl Sulfides via HI-Mediated C(sp2)-H Sulfenylation of Arenes with Sodium Sulfinates

A novel hydroiodic acid-promoted metal-free C(sp²)-H sulfenylation of electron-rich arenes was developed using stable and easy-to-handle sodium sulfinates as sulfur sources. Diverse kinds of asymmetric aryl sulfides were afforded in good yields from various commercially available aromatic substrates under mild conditions. Comprehensive mechanistic experiments demonstrate that RSO₂SR and RSSR are the key intermediates responsible for the redox process.

CuBr2-Catalyzed Annulation of 2-Bromo-N-Arylbenzimidamide with Se/S8 Powder for the Synthesis of Benzo[d]isoselenazole and Benzo[d]isothiazole

A CuBr₂-catalyzed annulation of 2-bromo-N-arylbenzimidamide with selenium/sulfur powder for the synthesis of benzo[d]isoselenazole and benzo[d]isothiazole in generally good yields was investigated. This synthetic strategy features good substrate scope and functional group tolerance. Furthermore, the corresponding products could be converted into N-aryl indoles via rhodium^III-catalyzed ortho C-H activation of the N-phenyl ring, providing an efficient approach for axial aromatic molecules.

Elemental Sulfur-Promoted Benzoxazole/Benzothiazole Formation Using a C═C Double Bond as a One-Carbon Donator

An efficient method to assemble diverse benzoxazoles/benzothiazoles in good yields was developed via oxidative cyclization with 2-aminothiophenols or 2-iodoanilines as raw materials. In this protocol, elemental sulfur was used as the effective oxidant and C atoms on the C═C double bond were introduced as a one-carbon donator.

HFIP promoted thio(hetero)arylation of imidazoheterocycles under metal- and base-free conditions

A new reaction methodology has been developed for HFIP promoted Thio(hetero)arylation of imidazoheterocycles under metal and base-free conditions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that describes linking of imidazopyridines with electron deficient heteroarenes through a sulphur atom and also for the synthesis of most of these compounds. The reaction conditions are well tolerated by almost all kinds of 2-chloroheteroarenes and a wide range of imidazoheterocycles. The synthesized compounds can show significant biological properties.

Aerobic Cross-Dehydrogenative Coupling Reactions for Selective Mono- and Dithiolation of Phenols

A highly efficient strategy for the direct thiolation of phenols under transition metal-free and solvent-free conditions has been developed. These reactions are operationally simple with employing air (molecular oxygen) as an ideal oxidant and can selectively provide mono- and dithiolation products in good to excellent yields under basic conditions. The reaction tolerates a broad range of aryl thiols and arenes and is especially applicable for large-scale synthesis.

Transition-Metal-Free Synthesis of N-Arylphenothiazines through an N- and S-Arylation Sequence

An efficient synthetic method of N-arylphenothiazines from o-sulfanylanilines under transition-metal-free conditions is disclosed. An N- and S-arylation sequence of o-sulfanylanilines enabled us to synthesize a wide variety of N-arylphenothiazines. In particular, one-pot synthesis of N-arylphenothiazines was accomplished from easily available modules through preparation of o-sulfanylanilines by thioamination of aryne intermediates and following N- and S-arylation sequence.

Iodine/DMSO-Promoted Selective Direct Arylthiation of Anilines with Thiols under Metal-Free Conditions

An iodine-promoted divergent thiolation of unprotected anilines with thiols for the synthesis of sulfide anilines has been described. The combinational use of I₂ and DMSO played an important role to realize this kind of transformation without the aid of a metal catalyst and strong oxidants. The reaction selectivity was well controlled to provide mono-, bis-, and trisubstituted diaryl sulfide derivatives. More importantly, iodination and sulfenylation can occur simultaneously to provide useful multifunctionalized iodoaniline products. This method afforded an efficient protocol for the construct C-S and C-I bonds from the C-H bond under mild reaction conditions.

Cu-Catalyzed Oxidative Thioesterification of Aroylhydrazides with Disulfides

An alternative thioesterification reaction via copper-catalyzed oxidative coupling of readily available aroylhydrazides with disulfides is developed, in which oxidative expulsion of N₂ overcomes the activation barrier between the carboxylic acid derivatives and the products. The reaction produces various thioesters in good to excellent yields with good functional group tolerance. In the reaction, stable and easily available aroylhydrazides are used as acyl sources and the relatively odorless disulfides are used as S sources. Mechanistic investigations demonstrate that the reaction of copper salt and oxidant (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ allows for achievement of tandem processes, including deprotonation, free-radical-mediated denitrogenation, and C-S bond formation.

Synthetic developments on the preparation of sulfides from thiol-free reagents

This critical review covers the main thiolating reagents with respect to their characteristics and reactivities. In fact, they are complementary to each other and bring different thiolation strategies, avoiding the hazardous thiol derivatives.

Lewis-acid-promoted cyclization reaction: synthesis of N3-chloroethyl and N3-thiocyanatoethyl quinazolinones

A Lewis-acid-promoted cyclization reaction of benzoyl chlorides with 2-(4,5-dihydrooxazol-2-yl)anilines, which can offer a series of N3-chloroethyl quinazolinones, is disclosed.

Sulfenylation of Arenes with Ethyl Arylsulfinates in Water

A tetrabutylammonium iodide-mediated direct sulfenylation of arenes with ethyl arylsulfinates in water was developed. Various electron-rich arenes and ethyl arylsulfinates were investigated in the reaction, and a series of aryl sulfides were obtained in excellent yields. The advantages of this green protocol were simple reaction conditions (metal-free, water as the solvent, and under air), odorless and easily available sulfur reagent, broad substrate scope, and gram-scale synthesis. Moreover, the potential application of aryl sulfides was exemplified by further transformations.

Catalyst and additive-free oxidative dual C-H sulfenylation of imidazoheterocycles with elemental sulfur using DMSO as a solvent and an oxidant

Dual C-H sulfenylation was used to obtain 3-vulcanized imidazoheterocycles using odorless elemental sulfur under catalyst- and additive-free conditions. C-H activation of both imidazoheterocycles and arylamines/arenols/indoles was realized by a practical protocol in which DMSO served as both a solvent and an internal oxidant.

Switchable Copper-Catalyzed Approach to Benzodithiole, Benzothiaselenole, and Dibenzodithiocine Skeletons

A copper-catalyzed reaction between 2-bromo-benzothioamides and S8 or Se involving sulfur rearrangement is reported, enabling access to benzodithioles 2 and benzothiaselenoles 6 in the presence of Cs2CO3. In the absence of S8 or Se, the reaction affords dibenzodithiocines 7 via two consecutive C(sp2)-S Ullmann couplings.

Room temperature nickel-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl-boronic acids with thiophenols: synthesis of diarylsulfides

A mild and easy to operate NiCl₂/2,2′-bipyridine-catalyzed cross-coupling of thiophenols with arylboronic acids has been developed for the synthesis of symmetric and unsymmetric diarylsulfides at room temperature and in air.

Advances in Cu and Ni-catalyzed Chan–Lam-type coupling: synthesis of diarylchalcogenides, Ar2–X (X = S, Se, Te)

Advances in the Cu and Ni-catalyzed Chan–Lam-type coupling of aryl/heteroarylboronic acids with various chalcogen sources for diarylsulfide, diarylselenide and diaryltelluride synthesis are covered in this review.

Iodine-promoted radical alkyl sulfuration of imidazopyridines with dialkyl azo compounds and elemental sulfur

Dialkyl azo compounds were found to be effective alkyl radical sources for direct alkyl sulfuration with imidazopyridines using elemental sulfur under metal-free conditions. Iodine, an inexpensive and mild reagent, could promote alkyl sulfuration. A variety of quaternary cyanoalkyl radicals were successfully coupled with elemental sulfur. A subsequent C-H sulfuration of imidazopyridines afforded a diverse array of imidazopyridine derivatives bearing cyanoalkylthio groups. The cyano group could be modified and further underwent condensation with 2-aminothiazole to afford an interesting heterocyclic amide. Control experiments showed that iodine could greatly suppress the self-coupling of cyanoalkyl radicals, thus making the sulfuration proceed smoothly.

Ring-opening/annulation reaction of cyclopropyl ethanols: concise access to thiophene aldehydes via C–S bond formation

The synthesis of thiophene aldehydes from easily available cyclopropyl ethanol derivatives and potassium sulfide has been developed.

Direct thiocarbamation of imidazoheterocycles via dual C–H sulfurization

Direct thiocarbamation via dual C–H sulfurization.

3d Transition Metals for C-H Activation

C-H activation has surfaced as an increasingly powerful tool for molecular sciences, with notable applications to material sciences, crop protection, drug discovery, and pharmaceutical industries, among others. Despite major advances, the vast majority of these C-H functionalizations required precious 4d or 5d transition metal catalysts. Given the cost-effective and sustainable nature of earth-abundant first row transition metals, the development of less toxic, inexpensive 3d metal catalysts for C-H activation has gained considerable recent momentum as a significantly more environmentally-benign and economically-attractive alternative. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview on first row transition metal catalysts for C-H activation until summer 2018.