Pushing Boundaries: What's Next in Metal-Free C-H Functionalization for Sulfenylation?

The synthesis of thioether derivatives has been explored widely due to the potential application of these derivatives in medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical industry and material chemistry. Within this context, there has been an increasing demand for the environmentally benign construction of C-S bonds via C-H functionalization under metal-free conditions. In the present article, we highlight recent developments in metal-free sulfenylation that have occurred in the past three years. The synthesis of organosulfur compounds via a metal-free approach using a variety of sulfur sources, including thiophenols, disulfides, sulfonyl hydrazides, sulfonyl chlorides, elemental sulfur and sulfinates, is discussed. Non-conventional strategies, which refer to the development of thioether derivatives under visible light and electrochemically mediated conditions, are also discussed. The key advantages of the reviewed methodologies include broad substrate scope and high reaction yields under environmentally benign conditions. This comprehensive review will provide chemists with a synthetic tool that will facilitate further development in this field.

Copper-catalyzed thiocyanation of cyclobutanone oxime esters using ammonium thiocyanate

A copper-catalyzed thiocyanation of cycloketone oxime esters with ammonium thiocyanate has been developed for the first time. This innovative approach allows access to cyano and thiocyano bifunctionally substituted alkanes, which can be further transformed into their respective trifluoromethylthiol-substituted or difluoromethylthiol-substituted alkylnitriles, alkynyl sulfides, and phosphorothioate esters. The readily available nature of ammonium thiocyanate and the cost-effectiveness of the copper catalyst make this method a promising strategy for the synthesis of sulfur-containing alkylnitriles.

Recent Advances in Iodine-Promoted C-S/N-S Bonds Formation

Sulfur-containing scaffold, as a ubiquitous structural motif, has been frequently used in natural products, bioactive chemicals and pharmaceuticals, particularly C-S/N-S bonds are indispensable in many biological important compounds and pharmaceuticals. Development of mild and general methods for C-S/N-S bonds formation has great significance in modern research. Iodine and its derivatives have been recognized as inexpensive, environmentally benign and easy-handled catalysts or reagents to promote the construction of C-S/N-S bonds under mild reaction conditions, with good regioselectivities and broad substrate scope. Especially based on this, several new strategies, such as oxidation relay strategy, have been greatly developed and accelerated the advancement of this field. This review focuses on recent advances in iodine and its derivatives promoted hybridized C-S/N-S bonds formation. The features and mechanisms of corresponding reactions are summarized and the results of some cases are compared with those of previous reports. In addition, the future of this domain is discussed.

Total synthesis of wikstrol A and wikstrol B

The first total synthesis of wikstrol A and wikstrol B was achieved by employing aldol reaction, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, regioselective iodination, Sonogashira coupling, and rhodium-catalyzed oxidative coupling as key steps. The structure of the key intermediate for wikstrol A was confirmed via its derivative by single-crystal X-ray analysis.

TfNHNHBoc as a SCF3 source for the sulfenylation of indoles

An unprecedented use of TfNHNHBoc as an effective SCF₃ source has been established in the copper-catalyzed oxidative sulfenylation of indoles.

Copper-catalyzed direct trifluoromethylthiolation of indoles by tert-butyl 2-((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)hydrazine-1-carboxylate

A novel copper-catalyzed direct trifluoromethylthiolation of indoles and other electron-rich aromatics using tert-butyl 2-((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)hydrazine-1-carboxylate as the SCF₃ source was developed.

Tetrabutylammonium Iodide-Promoted Thiolation of Oxindoles Using Sulfonyl Chlorides as Sulfenylation Reagents

3-Sulfanyloxindoles were synthesised by triphenylphosphine-mediated transition-metal-free thiolation of oxindoles using sulfonyl chlorides as sulfenylation reagents. The above reaction was promoted by iodide anions, which was ascribed to the in situ conversion of sulfenyl chlorides into the more reactive sulfenyl iodides. Moreover, the thiolation of 3-aryloxindoles was facilitated by bases. The use of a transition-metal-free protocol, readily available reagents, and mild reaction conditions make this protocol more practical for preparing 3-sulfanyloxindoles than traditional methods.

Transition metal-free direct trifluoromethylthiolation of indoles using trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride in the presence of triphenylphosphine

A novel triphenylphosphine-mediated direct trifluoromethylthiolation of indole derivatives using trifluoromethanesulfonyl chloride as the SCF₃ source was developed.

Synthesis of N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles by cascade annulation of 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines

Divergent synthesis of N-alkyl-3-sulfonylindoles and N-alkyl-3-sulfanylindoles from 2-alkynyl-N,N-dialkylanilines and sulfonyl hydrazides has been described.

Transition-metal free direct difluoromethylthiolation of electron-rich aromatics with difluoromethanesulfonyl chloride

A new method for phosphine-mediated difluoromethylthiolation of indoles and other electron-rich aromatics using difluoromethanesulfonyl chloride was developed.

Total synthesis of I3,II8-biapigenin and ridiculuflavone A

The first total synthesis of I3,II8-biapigenin and ridiculuflavone A was achieved via Sonogashira and rhodium-catalyzed oxidative coupling as the key steps.

Synthesis of thiophosphates through a three-component reaction by using sulfur dioxide as the sulfur source

Generation of thiophosphates through a three-component reaction of diaryliodonium tetrafluoroborates, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-sulfur dioxide (DABCO·(SO₂)₂), and diarylphosphine oxides under visible light irradiation is described.