Three-Component Reaction between Alkynes, Elemental Sulfur, and Aliphatic Amines: A General, Straightforward, and Atom Economical Approach to Thioamides

Divergent Reaction of Alkynes and TsCN: Synthesis of β-Sulfinyl Alkenylsulfones and (E)-Vinyl Sulfones

An efficient and high-selectivity approach for the divergent synthesis of β-sulfinyl alkenylsulfones and (E)-vinyl sulfones from alkynes and TsCN is described. A series of disulfurized products were constructed under mild conditions in the absence of transition metals. This transformation featured excellent regio- and stereoselectivity, good functional group compatibility, and broad substrate scope. The copper(I)-catalyzed sulfonation of alkynes with TsCN that affords (E)-vinyl sulfones in good to excellent yields was also developed.

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.

A Domino Protocol toward High-performance Unsymmetrical Dibenzo[d,d']thieno[2,3-b;4,5-b']dithiophenes Semiconductors

Unsymmetric organic semiconductors have many advantages such as good solubility, rich intermolecular interactions for potential various optoelectronic applications. However, their synthesis is more challenging due to intricate structures thus normally suffering tedious synthesis. Herein, we report a trisulfur radical anion (S3⋅-) triggered domino thienannulation strategy for the synthesis of dibenzo[d,d']thieno[2,3-b;4,5-b']dithiophenes (DBTDTs) using readily available 1-halo-2-ethynylbenzenes as starting materials. This domino protocol features no metal catalyst and the formation of six C-S and one C-C bonds in a one-pot reaction. Mechanistic study revealed a unique domino radical anion pathway. Single crystal structure analysis of unsymmetric DBTDT shows that its unique unsymmetric structure endows rich and multiple weak S⋅⋅⋅S interactions between molecules, which enables the large intermolecular transfer integrals of 86 meV and efficient charge transport performance with a carrier mobility of 1.52 cm2 V-1 s-1. This study provides a facile and highly efficient synthetic strategy for more high-performance unsymmetric organic semiconductors.

Regioselective Addition of Sulfur and Amine Nucleophiles To Assemble S═C-S, S-N, and Umpolung C-N Bonds: Exploration of the -CBr3 Group as a Synthetic Equivalent of S═C-S

The regioselective addition of sulfur and amine nucleophiles to a -CBr3 unit and nitromethyl moiety in a molecule with the installation of a five-diverse bond structure to novel isothiazole-5(2H)-thione is demonstrated. Umpolung of the nitromethyl group leads to a novel scaffold with selective C-N bond formation. Consequently, differentiating reactive centers by sulfur and amine nucleophiles has been proposed to create unique S-N bonds in conjunction with the dithioate (S═C-S-) moiety. This protocol allows for exploration of the -CBr3 moiety as a synthetic equivalent of the dithioate (S═C-S-) unit during the reaction.

Elemental Sulfur Promoted Cyclization of Aryl Hydrazones and Aryl Isothiocyanates Yielding 2-Imino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles

We report a method for using elemental sulfur to facilitate the cyclization of aryl hydrazones and aryl isothiocyanates, affording biorelated 2-imino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles. Reactions progressed in the presence of elemental sulfur, N-methylmorpholine base, and DMSO solvent, while were tolerant of a wide range of functionalities including halogen, nitro, cyano, methylsulfonyl, and heterocyclic groups. The method appears to offer a general pathway for using simple, cheap, and stable reagents to afford triaryl-substituted 2-imino-1,3,4-thiadiazoles under relatively mild conditions.

Copolymerization Involving Sulfur-Containing Monomers

Incorporating sulfur (S) atoms into polymer main chains endows these materials with many attractive features, including a high refractive index, mechanical properties, electrochemical properties, and adhesive ability to heavy metal ions. The copolymerization involving S-containing monomers constitutes a facile method for effectively constructing S-containing polymers with diverse structures, readily tunable sequences, and topological structures. In this review, we describe the recent advances in the synthesis of S-containing polymers via copolymerization or multicomponent polymerization techniques concerning a variety of S-containing monomers, such as dithiols, carbon disulfide, carbonyl sulfide, cyclic thioanhydrides, episulfides and elemental sulfur (S8). Particularly, significant focus is paid to precise control of the main-chain sequence, stereochemistry, and topological structure for achieving high-value applications.

Nucleophilic sulfur controlled efficient ketothioamide synthesis from tribromomethyl carbinols

A mild, catalyst and oxidant-free efficient protocol for synthesizing α-ketothioamides is reported with a broad substrate scope. The presented protocol demonstrates the confined reactivity of amines. The polysulfide derived from elemental sulfur and amines in an aqueous medium drives the pathway toward diverse α-ketothioamides over thioamides. Substrates with different substituent groups were compatible with the presented protocol, and the respective ketothioamides were separated in good to excellent yields. The ketothioamides, known to exhibit anti-cancer properties, were synthesized by the proposed protocol. Furthermore, the synthetic utility was explored with the typical synthesis of ketoamides.

DABCO-Catalyzed DMSO-Promoted Sulfurative 1,2-Diamination of Phenylacetylenes with Elemental Sulfur and o-Phenylenediamines: Access to Quinoxaline-2-thiones

The oxidative amination of alkynes typically requires transition metal catalysts and strong oxidants. Herein, we alternatively utilize DABCO as a sulfur-activating catalyst to achieve the sulfurative 1,2-diamination of phenylacetylenes with elemental sulfur and o-phenylenediamines. DMSO was found to be particularly suitable for use as a terminal oxidant for this three-component process. A mechanistic study has shown that this cascade reaction is triggered by the addition of active sulfur species to the triple bond of phenylacetylenes.

Towards More Practical Methods for the Chemical Synthesis of Thioamides Using Sulfuration Agents: A Decade Update

Compounds possessing a thioamide function play a crucial role in organic synthesis, serving as key building blocks. They are also important in the pharmaceutical chemistry and drug design, owing to their ability to mimic the amide function in biomolecules while retaining or developing biological activity. From the synthetic viewpoint, several methods have been developed for preparing thioamides using sulfuration agents. The purpose of this review is to give an update of the last decade of contributions focusing on the formation of thioamides employing different sulfur sources. When appropriate, the cleanness and practicality of the new methods are highlighted.

Oxidative coupling of dibenzyl disulfide with amines catalyzed by quinoline-bromine complex: access to thioamides

The reaction of dibenzyl disulfide with various bromine complexes as oxidants and DMSO as solvent can produce thioamides in high yield at 110 °C. Tertiary amines like pyridine and quinoline, which were utilized in this catalyst, are known to generate bromine-addition complexes. The approach is metal- and additive-free, making it a simple and cost-effective way to make a variety of thioamides under favorable circumstances.

Stabilities of Three Key Biological Trisulfides with Implications for Their Roles in the Release of Hydrogen Sulfide and Bioaccumulation of Sulfane Sulfur

Trisulfides and higher polysulfides are important in the body due to their function as key reservoirs of sulfane sulfur and their rapid reactions to release persulfides. Recent work has shown that persulfides act as powerful antioxidants and release hydrogen sulfide, an emerging gasotransmitter with numerous therapeutic effects. Despite the important role of polysulfides, there is a lack of understanding of their stabilities in aqueous systems. To investigate the reactivity of trisulfides and polysulfides, three key biologically important trisulfides were synthesized from cysteine, glutathione, and N-acetylcysteine, and the tetrasulfide of N-acetylcysteine was synthesized as a representative polysulfide. The stabilities of sulfides were monitored in buffered D₂O using ¹H NMR spectroscopy under a range of conditions including high temperatures and acidic and alkaline environments. The tri- and tetrasulfides degraded rapidly in the presence of primary and tertiary amines to the corresponding disulfide and elemental sulfur. The half-lives of N-acetylcysteine tri- and tetrasulfides in the presence of butylamine were 53 and 1.5 min, respectively. These results were important because they suggest that tri- and tetrasulfide linkages are short-lived species in vivo due to the abundance of amines in the body. Under basic conditions, cysteine and glutathione trisulfides were unstable due to the deprotonation of the ammonium group, exposing an amine; however, N-acetylcysteine trisulfide was stable at all pH values tested. Hydrogen sulfide release of each polysulfide in the presence of cysteine was quantified using a hydrogen sulfide-sensitive electrode and ¹H NMR spectroscopy.

Water Mediated Direct Thioamidation of Aldehydes at Room Temperature

A mild, greener approach toward thioamide synthesis has been developed. Its unique features include water-mediated reaction with no input energy, additives, or catalysts as well. The presented protocol is attractive with readily available starting materials and the use of different array amines, along with a scaled-up method. Biologically active molecules such as thionicotinamide and thioisonicotinamide can be synthesized from this procedure.

Sulfur–DMSO promoted oxidative coupling of active methylhetarenes with amines: access to amides

The sulfur–DMSO couple was found to promote the coupling of active methylhetarenes with amines to yield amides under heating conditions. When 2-methylquinoline was used as the methylhetarene component, the reaction could be catalyzed by Fe, Co and Ni salts.

Thioamide synthesis via copper-catalyzed C–H activation of 1,2,3-thiadiazoles enabled by slow release and capture of thioketenes

A copper-catalyzed coupling of 1,2,3-thiadiazoles with various amines under base-free conditions was developed as a robust protocol for the synthesis of thioamide derivatives via C–H activation/Cu coordination strategy.

Cellulose-reinforced poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate)-supported Ag nanoparticles with excellent catalytic properties: synthesis of thioamides using the Willgerodt–Kindler reaction

Cellulose, a bio-derived polymer, is widely used in food packaging, dye removal, coatings, and solid-supported catalysis. Heterogeneous catalysts play a critical role in environmental remediation. In this context, the demand for green and cost-effective catalysts has rapidly increased. In this study, cellulose was extracted from rice straw, and a highly active solid-supported catalytic model was developed. First, cellulose was conjugated with poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (PEVA), and then Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) were inserted into the cellulose–PEVA composite. The process involved the reduction of AgNPs in the presence of sodium borohydride. The fabricated hybrid catalyst was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and powder X-ray diffraction. Thereafter, the obtained hybrid was used as a catalyst for the Willgerodt–Kindler reaction of aromatic aldehydes, amines, and S₈ to synthesize thioamides with excellent yields. The developed catalytic system exhibited high stability and recyclability. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the hybrid catalyst were evaluated using tensile strength and impact tests. RGB analysis of digital images was also performed to investigate the primary components of the catalyst.

The AgNPs@cellulose–PEVA hybrid catalyst presented excellent catalytic efficacy for the Willgerodt–Kindler reaction, facilitating the selective formation of C Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> S bonds.

Fe/S-Catalyzed synthesis of 2-benzoylbenzoxazoles and 2-quinolylbenzoxazoles via redox condensation of o-nitrophenols with acetophenones and methylquinolines

An Fe/S catalyst generated in situ from FeCl₂·4H₂O and elemental sulfur S₈ in the presence of a tertiary amine as a base was found to catalyze efficiently a 6e^- redox condensation of o-nitrophenols with acetophenones and methylquinolines. The condensed products 2-benzoylbenzoxazoles and 2-quinolylbenzoxazoles were obtained in reasonable yields with water as the only byproduct at a temperature as low as 80 °C.

The thioamidation of gem-dibromoalkenes in an aqueous medium

The direct integration of sulphur and amine groups with 1,1-dibromoalkenes for thioamide synthesis has been achieved in an aqueous medium. The presented green protocol emphasizes the suitability of aqueous media for the thioamidation reaction and enables greater selectivity with synthetic utility. A wide range of thioamides in moderate to excellent yields has been achieved using readily available starting materials, with the use of no organic solvents, catalysts, or additives.

Elemental sulphur in the synthesis of sulphur-containing polymers: reaction mechanisms and green prospects

The synthesis of polymers using elemental sulphur as a chemical agent has been studied in relation to the worldwide overproduction of cyclo-octasulphur. Herein, the mechanisms of the processes leading to the inclusion of elemental sulphur into macromolecules have been reviewed and the main methods for reduction of the reaction temperature required for the S8 ring opening have been shown. Approaches to the activation of cyclo-octasulphur in the synthesis and macromolecule cross-linking reactions were discussed in the context of finding the chemical agents and conditions that satisfy the principles of green chemistry.

A more sustainable isothiocyanate synthesis by amine catalyzed sulfurization of isocyanides with elemental sulfur

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are typically prepared using amines and highly toxic reagents such as thiophosgene, its derivatives, or CS2. In this work, an investigation of a multicomponent reaction (MCR) using isocyanides, elemental sulfur and amines revealed that isocyanides can be converted to isothiocyanates using sulfur and catalytic amounts of amine bases, especially DBU (down to 2 mol%). This new catalytic reaction was optimized in terms of sustainability, especially considering benign solvents such as Cyrene™ or γ-butyrolactone (GBL) under moderate heating (40 °C). Purification by column chromatography was further optimized to generate less waste by maintaining high purity of the product. Thus, E-factors as low as 0.989 were achieved and the versatility of this straightforward procedure was shown by converting 20 different isocyanides under catalytic conditions, while obtaining moderate to high yields (34-95%).

Recent advances in multi-component reactions and their mechanistic insights: a triennium review

This review summarizes the recent developments in MCRs, incorporating different strategies along with their mechanistic aspects.

Synthesis of primary N-arylthioglyoxamides from anilines, elemental sulfur and primary C-H bonds in acetophenones

A simple method for coupling of anilines, acetophenones, and elemental sulfur to afford N-arylthioglyoxamides has been developed. Reactions proceeded in the presence of Na₂SO₃ and DMSO, thus eliminating the need for transition metals and external oxidants. Functionalities such as halogen, ester, methylthio, and heterocycle groups were compatible with the conditions. Electron-poor acetophenones sometimes gave isosteric glyoxamides.

Sulfurative coupling of acetophenones and aniline in the presence of Na₂SO₃ and DMSO solvent to afford N-arylthioglyoxamides was developed.

Multicomponent Reactions in Polymer Chemistry Utilizing Heavier Main Group Elements

Herein, a concise overview of the use of heavier main group elements in multicomponent reactions and their use in polymer chemistry is provided. Incorporating heavier elements into macromolecular structures via multicomponent reactions allows for the rapid development of materials with unique properties that are not readily achieved using carbon, nitrogen, and/or oxygen. Elements in Group 13, Group 14, Group 15, and Group 16 are specifically covered examining both the familiar and unfamiliar properties of these elements and how they are used in multicomponent chemistry. Furthermore, elements that both take part in the reaction mechanism and remain in the macromolecular structure upon completion are only briefly explored. Some of the state-of-the-art work going into developing these heavier element multicomponent reactions are highlighted and it is hoped to inspire other polymer chemists to explore other parts of the periodic table.

Elemental-Sulfur-Incorporated Cyclizations of Pyrrolidines Leading to Thienopyrroles

We report, herein, the synthesis of thieno[3,2-b]pyrroles from the direct oxidative [4 + 1] cyclization of 2-alkynyl pyrrolidines with elemental sulfur. This transformation likely originates from electrophilic attack at the β-position of pyrrolidine followed by an intramolecular thienannulation to deliver the desired product. Mechanistic investigation suggests that the present reaction involves the formation of dihydrothieno[3,2-b]pyrrole as an intermediate.

Sulfur-mediated synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted N-aryl oxalamides by the cascade thioamidation/cyclocondensation and hydrolysis reaction

A facile and straightforward synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted N-aryl oxalamides from 2,2'-biphenyldiamines, 2-chloroacetic acid derivatives, elemental sulfur, and water has been developed. This protocol is distinguished by efficiency in water under metal-free conditions for N-aryl oxalamides bearing a side-chain NH2-group; it can be adapted for scale-up synthesis. The scope and limitations of this transformation have been investigated.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 2-substituted 4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1,3-thiazepines from 4-aminobutanol

A general procedure for the synthesis of 2-substituted tetrahydro-1,3-thiazepines by MW-assisted cyclization of 4-thioamidobutanols is presented. The acyclic precursors were prepared in high overall yields by an expeditious three-step diacylation/thionation/deprotection sequence from 4-aminobutanol. Microwave-assisted ring closure of 4-thioamido alcohols promoted by trimethylsilyl polyphosphate (PPSE) in solvent-free conditions allowed for the synthesis of several hitherto unreported seven-membered iminothioethers bearing 2-aryl, alkenyl, aralkyl and alkyl substituents. The cyclodehydration reaction is likely to involve an SN2-type displacement and affords good to excellent yields of the desired heterocycles in very short reaction times.

Hyperbranched multiple polythioamides made from elemental sulfur for mercury adsorption

Different from traditional polyethylenimine (PEI) modified Hg(ii) adsorbent materials, a novel hyperbranched polythioamide adsorbent (SPD) was prepared by using sulfur, PEI and 1,4-diethynylbenzene (DEB) as monomers.

Rust-derived Fe2O3 nanoparticles as a green catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of hydrazinyl thiazole derivatives

A novel route of one-pot multicomponent reaction of tosylates, aryl aldehydes and thiosemicarbazide for the synthesis of hydrazinyl thiazole is reported using Fe₂O₃ NPs derived from rust iron as a catalyst.