Palladium-Catalyzed Desulfonative Carbonylation of Thiosulfonates: Elimination of SO2 and Insertion of CO

Visible-Light-Mediated Synthesis of Thioesters Using Thiocarboxylic Acid as the Dual Reagent

We have developed a visible-light-driven method for thioester synthesis that relies on the unique dual role of thiobenzoic acids as one-electron reducing agents and reactants leading to the formation of sulfur radical species. This synthetic process offers a wide scope, accommodating various thioacid and thiol substrates without the need for a photocatalyst.

Nickel-Catalyzed Metathesis between Carboxylic Acids and Thioesters: A Direct Access to Thioesters

We describe a unique strategy for generating thioesters from carboxylic acids and thioesters. This transformation features operational simplicity and high step-economy, wherein the -SR moiety of thioesters was smoothly transferred to carboxylic acid from thioacetates as the starting material. Various substrates with different levels of electronic nature were all applicable to this reaction, furnishing thioesters in moderate to outstanding yields. According to the preliminary mechanistic studies, the anhydride intermediates may be involved in the present reaction.

In situ generation of acyloxyphosphoniums for mild and efficient synthesis of thioesters

We present a novel approach for in situ generation of acyloxyphosphoniums by premixing iodobenzene dicarboxylates and triphenylphosphine, resulting in efficient thioester synthesis (up to 100% yield). Stable solid iodobenzene dicarboxylates, achieved via carboxylate exchange, serve as hypervalent iodine precursors. The resulting acyloxyphosphoniums allow convenient one-pot thioester synthesis under mild conditions. Our method demonstrates facile acyloxyphosphonium production from iodobenzene dicarboxylates and Ph3P, enabling diverse thioester preparation. ESI-MS analysis confirms acyloxyphosphonium ion formation, pivotal in acylation. This strategy holds potential for combinatorial thioester synthesis and broader nucleophile modification applications.

Palladium-Catalyzed Thiocarbonylation of Aryl Iodides with S-Aryl Thioformates via Thioester Transfer

Herein we reported a novel approach to synthesize thioesters with S-aryl thioformates as thioester sources. The reaction proceeded at ambient temperature using widely available starting ingredients, wherein the thioester moiety was smoothly transferred to aryl iodides from S-aryl thioformates. A variety of substrates with various electronic natures were all tolerated under the reaction conditions to furnish desirable thioesters in ranges from moderate to excellent yields. The gram-scale reaction was also conducted, and there was virtually little change in chemical yield, indicating that large-scale synthesis of thioesters may be viable using this method.