Silver-catalyzed direct thiolation of quinones by activation of aryl disulfides to synthesize quinonyl aryl thioethers

J Org Chem. 2015 May 15;80(10):4919-27. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.5b00247. Epub 2015 Apr 27.

Abstract

A silver-catalyzed coupling reaction of quinones with aryl disulfides for the synthesis of quinonyl aryl thioethers is described. In the presence of AgOAc (0.2 equiv)/dppp (0.24 equiv) as the catalyst, (NH4)2S2O8 (3.0 equiv) as the oxidant, and Bu4NBF4 (1.0 equiv) as the additive, the reaction is simple, provides high yield (up to 88% yield), and possesses a broad substrate scope. The reaction is believed to proceed via direct activation of disulfides evidenced by observation of a metathesis reaction between two different disulfides placed together under the reaction conditions and (13)C NMR spectroscopy analysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Disulfides / chemistry*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Quinones / chemical synthesis*
  • Quinones / chemistry
  • Silver / chemistry*
  • Sulfides / chemical synthesis*
  • Sulfides / chemistry

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • Quinones
  • Sulfides
  • Silver