Shi Y, Liu X, Cao H, Bie F, Han Y, Yan P, Szostak R, Szostak M, Liu C. Conversion of esters to thioesters under mild conditions.
Org Biomol Chem 2021;
19:2991-2996. [PMID:
33734267 DOI:
10.1039/d1ob00187f]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We report conversion of esters to thioesters via selective C-O bond cleavage/weak C-S bond formation under transition-metal-free conditions. The method is notable for a general and practical transition-metal-free system, broad substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance. The strategy was successfully deployed in late-stage thioesterification, site-selective cross-coupling/thioesterification/decarbonylation and easy-to-handle gram scale thioesterification. Selectivity and computational studies were performed to gain insight into the formation of weak C-S bonds by C-O bond cleavage, which contrasts with the traditional trend of nucleophilic additions to carboxylic acid derivatives.
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