Copper-Catalyzed Tandem Sulfuration/Annulation of Propargylamines with Sulfur via C-N Bond Cleavage

Reactions of alkynes with C-S bond formation: recent developments

Alkynes are important in organic synthesis. This review mainly focuses on recent advances (2013-2023) on alkynes with C-S bond formation, based on more than 30 types of sulfur reagents. The reactions of alkynes with various sulfur-containing compounds including RSSR (disulfides), RSH (thiols), S8 (elemental sulphur), alkynyl thioethers, RSCN, AgSCF3, K2S, Na2S, dithiane, RSCl, NFSI, RNCS, EtOCS2K, thiocarbamate, RSONH2, thiourea, sulfoxide, RSO2N3, CS2, RSO2NH2, RSO2NHNH2, RSO2Cl, RSO2Oar, RSO2SR', DABCO·(SO2)2, Na2S2O5, K2S2O5, RSO2H, RSO2Na and related compounds are discussed. Diverse mechanisms such as radical, electrophilic/nucleophilic addition, rearrangement, C-C bond cleavage, and CuAAC are discussed. The content is organized by substrates and reactivity patterns. We hope it will help in future research in this area.

Na2S·9H2O Enabled Defluorodisulfuration and Hydrodefluorination of Perfluorobutyl Tetralones: Synthesis of Trifluoromethyl 1,2-Dithioles

An unprecedented defluorocyclization of perfluorobutyl tetralones with Na₂S·9H₂O was developed for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl 1,2-dithioles, which provided chemists novel access to biologically and pharmaceutically relevant organofluorides. Successive C(sp³)-F bond functionalization at the perfluoroalkyl chain is vital for the formation of four C-H/C-S/S-S bonds and a five-membered S-heterocycle assembly. Cheap, weakly toxic, and odorless inorganic sulfide Na₂S·9H₂O acts as both a disulfurating precursor and a hydrodefluorinating reagent in this tandem multi-bond-interconverting reaction.

Catalytic (3 + 2) umpolung annulations of α-thioacyl carbenes with aryl isothiocyanates

As masked S-electrophilic thia-1,3-dipoles, 1,2,3-thiadiazoles undergo denitrogenative (3 + 2) umpolung transannulations with aryl isothiocyanates, regio- and stereoselectively.

Base-promoted thioannulation of o-alkynyl oxime ethers with sodium sulfide for the general synthesis of isothiocoumarins

A general and efficient strategy for the one-pot synthesis of isothiocoumarin-1-ones has been developed via the base-promoted 6-endo-dig thioannulation of o-alkynyl oxime ethers using the cheap and readily available Na₂S as the sulfur source. Mechanistic studies disclosed that the reaction proceeded through two C-S bond formations, N-O bond cleavage and the final hydrolysis of imines.

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.

Synthesis and Reactivity of 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thiones

3H-1,2-Dithiole-3-thiones are among the best studied classes of polysulfur-containing heterocycles due to the almost explosive recent interest in these compounds as sources of hydrogen sulfide as an endogenously produced gaseous signaling molecule. This review covers the recent developments in the synthesis of these heterocycles, including both well-known procedures and important novel transformations for building the 1,2-dithiole-3-thione ring. Diverse ring transformations of 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thiones into various heterocyclic systems through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, replacement of one or two sulfur atoms to form carbon- and carbon-nitrogen containing moieties, and other unexpected reactions are considered.

Metal-catalyzed C-S bond formation using sulfur surrogates

Sulfur-containing compounds are present in a wide range of biologically important natural products, drugs, catalysts, and ligands and they have wide applications in material chemistry. Transition metal-catalyzed C-S bond-forming reactions have successfully overcome the obstacles associated with traditional organosulfur compound syntheses such as stoichiometric use of metal-catalysts, catalyst-poisoning and harsh reaction conditions. One of the key demands in metal-catalyzed C-S bond-forming reactions is the use of an appropriate sulfur source due to its odor and availability. The unpleasant odor of many organic sulfur sources might be one of the reasons for the metal-catalyzed C-S bond-forming reactions being less explored compared to other metal-catalyzed C-heteroatom bond-forming reactions. Hence, employing an appropriate sulfur surrogate in the synthesis of organosulfur compounds in metal-catalyzed reactions is still of prime interest for chemists. This review explores the recent advances in C-S bond formation using transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions and C-H bond functionalization using diverse and commercially available sulfur surrogates. Based on the different transition metal-catalysts, this review has been divided into three major classes namely (1) palladium-catalyzed C-S bond formation, (2) copper-catalyzed C-S bond formation, and (3) other metal-catalyzed C-S bond formation. This review is further arranged based on the different sulfur surrogates. Also, this review provides an insight into the growing opportunities in the construction of complex organosulfur scaffolds covering natural product synthesis and functional materials.

Synthesis of Isoselenazoles and Isothiazoles from Demethoxylative Cycloaddition of Alkynyl Oxime Ethers

A general method for the synthesis of isoselenazoles and isothiazoles has been developed by the base-promoted demethoxylative cycloaddition of alkynyl oxime ethers using the cheap and inactive Se powder and Na₂S as selenium and sulfur sources. This transformation features the direct construction of N-, Se-, and S-containing heterocycles through the formation of N-Se/S and C-Se/S bonds in one-pot reactions with excellent functional group tolerance.

Selective [3 + 2] Cycloaddition of Cyclopropenone Derivatives and Elemental Chalcogens

A highly efficient method is disclosed for the synthesis of 1,2-dichalcogen heterocycles via [3 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclopropenone derivatives and elemental chalcogens. Different from other cyclopropenone derivatives, cyclopropenselenones undergo unprecedented rearrangement with elemental sulfur. The features of this protocol include mild reaction conditions, high efficiency, excellent atom economy, gram-scale ability, and good regioselectivity.

Black TiO2 nanoparticles with efficient photocatalytic activity under visible light at low temperature: regioselective C–N bond cleavage toward the synthesis of thioureas, sulfonamides, and propargylamines

Several different colored forms of TiO₂ were prepared through the easy treatment of white TiO₂ and NaBH₄ as a safe hydrogen source. Then, tertiary amines were harnessed toward the regioselective synthesis of three prominent scaffolds.

Cu-catalyzed C–N bond cleavage of 3-aminoindazoles for the C–H arylation of enamines

We have presented a novel Cu-catalyzed stereoselective C–H arylation of enamines by using 3-aminoindazoles arylating agents via oxidative cleavage of two C–N bonds.

Synthesis of Dibenzo[d,f][1,3]Diazepines via Elemental Sulfur-Mediated Cyclocondensation of 2,2'-Biphenyldiamines with 2-Chloroacetic Acid Derivatives

The three-component reaction of 2,2'-biphenyldiamines with 2-chloroacetic acid derivatives and elemental sulfur was developed for the practical synthesis of unknown 2-carboxamide-substituted dibenzo[d,f][1,3]diazepines. This protocol is distinguished by efficiency in water and good tolerance to functional groups and can be adapted to a large-scale synthesis. The chemoselective preparation of a variety of 2-S,N,O-substituted dibenzo[d,f][1,3]diazepines was accomplished using the developed method.

Copper-Catalyzed Electrophilic Cyclization of N-Propargylamines with Sodium Sulfinate for the Synthesis of 3-Sulfonated Quinolines

A convenient and effective protocol for the synthesis of 3-sulfonated quinolines via copper-catalyzed electrophilic cyclization of N-propargylamines has been developed, in which cheap and stable sodium sulfinates were utilized as green sulfonylation reagents. This cascade transformation involves radical addition, cyclization and dehydrogenative aromatization processes in a one-pot reaction under mild conditions.