Transition-Metal-Free Sulfuration/Annulation of Alkenes: Economical Access to Thiophenes Enabled by the Cleavage of Multiple C-H Bonds

Org Lett. 2018 Dec 7;20(23):7392-7395. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.8b03078. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Abstract

A novel, atom economical, and transition-metal-free strategy for the synthesis of thiophenes from substituted buta-1-enes with potassium sulfide has been presented. The reaction achieves double C-S bond formations via cleavage of multiple C-H bonds and provides an efficient approach to access various functionalized thiophenes. Moreover, the strategy can also be used for the synthesis of thiophenes from 1,4-diaryl-1,3-dienes. Mechanistically, DMSO plays a role of oxidant and S3•- in situ generated from K2S is involved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't