Synthesis 2009(24): 4183-4189  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1217037
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Iron-Catalyzed Sulfenylation of Indoles with Disulfides Promoted by a Catalytic Amount of Iodine

Xiao-Li Fang, Ri-Yuan Tang, Ping Zhong, Jin-Heng Li*
College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, P. R. of China
Fax: +86(731)8872101; e-Mail: jhli@hunnu.edu.cn;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 24 June 2009
Publication Date:
12 October 2009 (online)

Abstract

Selective sulfenylation of indoles with disulfides using iron(III) fluoride combined with iodine has been developed for the synthesis of sulfenylindoles. In the presence of iron(III) fluoride and iodine, a variety of disulfides underwent the reaction with indoles selectively to afford the corresponding sulfenylindoles in good to excellent yields. Moreover, reactions of indoles with 1,2-diphenyldiselane were also conducted under the same conditions, which smoothly afforded 3-selenylindoles in good yields.

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