A direct and efficient method for the acetamidosulfenylation reaction of alkenes was
developed, in which NaI was used as a catalyst, DMSO as the oxidant, nitriles as both
the solvent and nucleophiles and stable, readily available Bunte salts as thiolating
reagents. The reactions were carried out under mild conditions generating β-acetamido
sulfides in good yields. Moreover, the reaction can be performed when alcohols are
used as nucleophiles providing the corresponding β-alkoxysulfides in moderate yields,
respectively.
Key words
alkenes - Bunte salts - β-acetamido sulfides - nitriles - nucleophiles