A copper-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction of aryl iodides, hexamethyldisilathiane and alkyl benzoates leading to alkyl aryl sulfides has been demonstrated. A disilathiane acted as both a sulfur source and a promoter of the sulfidation, and the alkyl moiety of the alkyl benzoate was effectively introduced on one side of the sulfide. Moreover, we found that the protocol can be expanded to the preparation of ethyl phenyl selenide with diphenyl diselenide.
Key words
disilathiane - alkyl benzoate - alkyl aryl sulfide - copper - coupling