Electrochemical Dehydrogenative Phosphorylation of Thiols

Visible Light/Copper Catalysis-Enabled Arylation and Alkenylation of Phosphorothioates via Site-Selective C-H Thianthrenation

An efficient visible light/copper-enabled arylation and alkenylation of phosphorothioates with thianthrenium salts via a C(sp2)-S cross-coupling reaction have been demonstrated. This strategy uses aryl/alkenyl thianthrenium salts as new electrophilic reagents, which can be easily prepared by the site-selective C-H thianthrenation of arenes/alkenes with high regioselectivity. Mechanistic studies revealed a crucial role of the in situ formed copper-sulfur complex, which undergoes a facile SET process with the thianthrenium salts under visible light conditions, thereby successfully achieving the desired cross-coupling reactivity.

Easy Access to α-Ketothioamides via Oxidative Amidation of Bunte Salts Using Electrolysis or Hypervalent Iodine

Two new protocols leveraging electrochemical and hypervalent iodine-mediated synthesis of α-ketothioamides have been developed by using easily accessible and cost-effective Bunte salts and secondary amines. The methods are efficient, simple, and straightforward, and showcase the formation of C-N bonds across diverse substrates under ambient conditions.

Electrochemical oxidative thioetherification of aldehyde hydrazones with thiophenols

An electrochemically promoted oxidative dehydrogenation cross-coupling reaction between aldehyde hydrazones and thiophenols is demonstrated for the first time, which resulted in a variety of (Z)-thioetherified products in moderate to excellent yields. This strategy can be carried out under an air atmosphere, featuring scalability and excellent stereoselectivity. In addition, the transformation efficiently produces readily recyclable disulfide as a by-product with high yields, which significantly reduces the environmental pollution caused by thioetherification.

NaOAc-Assisted Aerobic Oxidation Protocol for the Synthesis of Pentacoordinate Chalcogenyl Spirophosphoranes with P-Se/P-S Bonds under Open Air

The NaOAc-assisted aerobic oxidation reaction of pentacoordinate hydrospirophosphoranes and dichalcogenyl compounds with open air as a green oxidant has been developed under mild conditions. A series of novel pentacoordinate spirophosphoranes with P-Se/P-S bonds were synthesized in excellent yields. The reaction mechanism was determined by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance tracing experiments, high-resolution mass spectrometry tracing experiments, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The method features a broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance, and a high degree of atomic utilization and is meaningful for the synthesis of bioactive chalcogenphosphate compounds with chalcogen and phosphorus moieties.

Catalyst-free thiophosphorylation of in situ formed ortho-quinone methides

A metal-, chloride reagent and base-free thiophosphorylation reaction of in situ formed ortho-quinone methide (o-QM) to synthesize functionalized thiophosphates has been developed. The reaction is an atom-economical process, producing water as the sole byproduct. (EtO)₂P(O)SH functions as both a Brønsted acid and nucleophilic thiolate to produce the o-QM intermediate and the thiophosphate product, respectively. The aza o-QMs were also successfully thiophosphorylated in the presence of catalytic TsOH to form sulfonamido thiophosphates.

Cesium carbonate-catalyzed synthesis of phosphorothioates via S-phosphination of thioketones

A highly efficient and environmentally-friendly base-mediated transition metal-free direct thiophilic catalytic approach is reported for the synthesis of S-benzhydryl-phosphorothioates by reacting phosphite nucleophiles with diarylmethanethione. A wide variety of thioketones were coupled with different phosphite derivatives to provide the corresponding phosphorothioates in good to excellent yields. The control experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations rely on the regio-selective thiophilic addition of a phosphite nucleophile via umpolung protocols.

Metal-Free Regioselective Hydrophosphorodithioation of Spirovinylcyclopropyl Oxindoles: Rapid Access to Allyl Dialkylphosphorodithioates

Phosphorodithioates are important substructures due to their great use in bioactive compounds and functional materials. A metal-free 1,5-addition of spirovinylcyclopropyl oxindoles have been developed by choosing P₄S₁₀ and alcohol as nucleophiles through the regioselective ring-opening of spirovinylcyclopropyl oxindoles. This method provides access to allylic organothiophosphates with high efficiency, wide functional group tolerance, good chemo- and regioselectivity, and E-selectivity. 1,3-Addition products were also prepared in high yield. Furthermore, the resulting organothiophosphates could be readily transformed into other allylic derivatives.

Visible-Light Mediated Arbuzov-Like Reaction with Thiophenols

We hereby disclose, a visible light mediated addition of sulfenyl radicals to trialkyl phosphites to access functionalized phosphorothioates. The use of cheap and readily available Eosin Y as a photocatalyst under mild energy efficient conditions bypassing the use of external oxidants forms the chief highlight of the work. The protocol is scalable and mechanistic studies indicate that the reaction proceeds through an ionic-Arbuzov like pathway from phosphoranyl radicals.

Blue LED-Mediated Syntheses of Arylazo Phosphine Oxides and Phosphonates via N-P Bond Formation

The synthesis of (E)-diphenyl(aryldiazenyl)phosphine oxides and dialkyl (E)-(aryldiazenyl)phosphonates via visible light-mediated N-P bond formation between diazo species and phosphine oxides and phosphite derivatives, respectively, is described. The diazo species were generated via the reaction of aniline with isoamyl nitrite, which upon reaction with phosphorus surrogates generated arylazophosphine oxides and arylazo phosphonates in good to excellent yields. This sustainable chemical process offers a broad substrate scope and reasonably viable product formation.

Blue LED-Promoted Syntheses of Phosphorothioates and Phosphorodithioates

An environmentally friendly and resourceful modular protocol for the synthesis of phosphorochalcogenoates, phosphorochalcogenothioates, and phosphinothioates under blue light-emitting diode irradiation is described. The blue LED-promoted P-S, P-Se, and P-Te bond constructions occurred under metal-free, ligand-free, oxidant-free, and photocatalyst-free conditions with minimum chemical waste generation and high atom economy providing the resulting phosphorochalcogenoates, phosphorochalcogenothioates, and phosphinothioates in good to excellent yields.

Bromide ion promoted practical synthesis of phosphinothioates of sulfinic acid derivatives and H-phosphine oxides

Herein, a method for the practical synthesis of thiophosphinates under metal free and open flask conditions is reported.

Electrochemical Enabled Cascade Phosphorylation of N-H/O-H/S-H Bonds with P-H Compounds: An Efficient Access to P(O)-X Bonds

An electrochemical three component cascade phosphorylation reaction of various heteroatoms-containing nucleophiles including carbazoles, indoles, phenols, alcohols, and thiols with Ph₂ PH has been established. Electricity is used as the "traceless" oxidant and water and air are utilized as the "green" oxygen source. All kinds of structurally diverse organophosphorus compounds with P(O)-N/P(O)-O/P(O)-S bonds are assembled in moderate to excellent yields (three categories of phosphorylation products, 50 examples, up to 97 % yield). A tentative free radical course is put forward to rationalize the reaction procedure.

Oxidative cross-coupling of thiols for S-X (X = S, N, O, P, and C) bond formation: mechanistic aspects

This review focuses on the reactive intermediates (disulfides, sulfenyl halides, thiyl radicals, sulfenium cations, and metal-organosulfur species) and the mechanisms of the recently reported oxidative couplings of thiols. These intermediates are generated by chemical oxidants, transition metal catalysts, electrochemistry, and photochemistry. Chemical oxidant-mediated reactions involve radical, halogenated, or cationic intermediates, or disulfides. Transition metal-catalyzed mechanisms proposed various metal-organosulfur intermediates to elucidate the reactivity and selectivity of metal catalysts. In electro- and photooxidation, direct oxidation/reduction mechanisms of reactants at the electrode or indirect oxidation/reduction of reactants in the presence of redox catalysts have been reported. The following sections are based on the products, thiosulfonates (S-S bond), sulfenamides, sulfinamides, and sulfonamides (S-N bond), sulfinates (S-O bond), thiophosphine oxides and thiophosphates (S-P bond), and sulfides, sulfoxides, and sulfones (S-C bond) and discuss the reaction mechanisms and the above-mentioned key intermediates for product formation. The contents of this review will provide helpful information, guiding the choice of oxidative coupling conditions for the synthesis of various organosulfur compounds with high yields and selectivity.

Photoinduced Decarboxylative Phosphorothiolation of N-Hydroxyphthalimide Esters

A visible-light-induced protocol for the synthesis of phosphorothioates is developed by employing the Ir-catalyzed decarboxylative phosphorothiolation of N-hydroxyphthalimide esters. This novel synthesis method utilizes carboxylic acids as raw material, which is stable, cheap, and commercially available. Scope studies show that this reaction has good compatibility of functional groups. Notably, both the synthesis of steric hindrance phosphorothioates and the later modification of some bioactive compounds are successfully achieved.

Electrochemical Heteroatom-Heteroatom Bond Construction

Heteroatom-heteroatom linkage, with S-S bond as a presentative motif, served a crucial role in biochemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and material sciences. Thus, preparation of the privileged scaffold has always been attracting tremendous attention from the synthetic community. However, classic protocols suffered from several drawbacks, such as toxic and unstable agents, poor functional group tolerance, multiple steps, and explosive oxidizing regents as well as the transitional metal catalysts. Electrochemical organic synthesis exhibited a promising alternative to the traditional chemical reaction due to the sustainable electricity can be employed as the traceless redox agents. Hence, toxic and explosive oxidants and/or transitional metals could be discarded under mild reaction with high efficiency. In this context, a series of electrochemical approaches for the construction of heteroatom-heteroatom bond were reviewed. Notably, most of the cases illustrated the dehydrogenative feature with the clean energy molecules hydrogen as the sole by-product.

Electrochemical phosphorylation of arenols and anilines leading to organophosphates and phosphoramidates

A practical phosphorylation for generating organophosphates and phosphoramidates via electrochemical dehydrogenative cross-coupling of P(O)H compounds with arenols and anilines is disclosed. This method involves using inorganic iodide salts as both redox catalysts and electrolytes in an undivided cell without the addition of oxidants or bases. A preliminary mechanistic study suggests that radicals are not involved in this process. This method is green and eco-friendly and has good functional group tolerance, high yields and broad substrate scope, with the potential for practical synthesis.

Accelerating Electrochemical Synthesis through Automated Flow: Efficient Synthesis of Chalcogenophosphites

Integrated electrochemical reactors in automated flow systems have been utilised for chalcogenophosphite formations. Multiple electrochemical reactions can be performed using a programmed sequence in a fully autonomous way. Differently functionalised chalcogenophosphites have been efficiently synthesised in short reaction times.

Electrochemical Oxidative Dehydrogenative Phosphorylation of N-Heterocycles with P(O)-H Compounds in Imidazolium-Based Ionic Liquid

We report a direct and green electrochemical oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction of N-heterocycles with hydrogen phosphoryl compounds under external oxidant-free conditions. Various phosphorylation products of substituted carbazoles and indoles are assembled in modest to excellent yields. A hydrogen release process is preliminarily demonstrated and H₂ is the sole byproduct. An imidazolium based ionic liquid is selected as the optimal electrolyte.