Transition-metal mediated carbon-sulfur bond activation and transformations: an update

Area of Science:

• Organic Chemistry
• Catalysis
• Materials Science

Background:

• Carbon-sulfur (C-S) bond activation and cleavage are crucial for synthetic transformations.
• Transition-metal catalysis offers a powerful alternative to traditional methods for forming C-C and C-heteroatom bonds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of transition-metal-catalyzed C-S bond cross-coupling reactions.
• To update the field since the last major review in early 2013.
• To cover diverse organosulfur compounds and mechanistic insights.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature published since late 2012.
• Categorization of reactions based on organosulfur compound classes (e.g., thioethers, sulfoxides, sulfones).
• Inclusion of mechanistic studies and theoretical calculations (DFT).

Main Results:

• Significant advancements in C-S bond activation and cleavage methodologies.
• Broad applicability across various organosulfur substrates.
• Detailed mechanistic understanding and theoretical insights into C-S bond reactivity.

Conclusions:

• Transition-metal-catalyzed C-S bond cross-coupling is a rapidly evolving and highly versatile synthetic strategy.
• The review highlights the expanding scope and utility of these reactions in organic synthesis.
• Future research directions are implied by the discussed mechanistic and theoretical studies.