Selective approach to thioesters and thioethers via sp3 C–H activation of methylarenes

Abstract

Novel C–S cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) approaches for the selective synthesis of thioesters and thioethers have been developed via sp³ C–H activation of methylarenes and subsequent functionalization. The reaction of methylarenes with thiols resulted in thioesters in the presence of a FeBr₂/TBHP system, while treatment of methylarenes with thiols in the Pd(OAc)₂/O₂/TBHP system led to the formation of thioethers. Both the green protocols demonstrate good functional group tolerance and satisfactory yields.