Visible-light-driven multicomponent reactions to access S-alkyl phosphorothioates using elemental sulfur as the sulfur source

Abstract

A metal-free and unprecedented strategy has been established for the construction of S-alkyl phosphorothioates through visible-light-driven four-component reactions of α-diazoesters, cyclic ethers, elemental sulfur and H-phosphonates. This strategy simply utilizes DBU as additive and elemental sulfur as the cheap and odorless sulfur source, providing an efficient and attractive approach to access various S-alkyl phosphorothioates under mild conditions. Notably, three-component coupling products of α-diazoesters, elemental sulfur, and H-phosphonates could also be conveniently obtained in moderate to good yields by simply changing the reaction solvent.