Dynamic Covalent Chemistry as a Facile Route to Unusual Main-Group Thiolate Assemblies and Disulfide Hoops and Cages

Dynamic Covalent Chemistry (DCC) - combining the robustness of covalent bonds with the self-correcting nature of supramolecular chemistry - facilitates the modular synthesis of complex molecular assemblies in high yields. Although numerous reactions form covalent bonds, only a small set of chemical transformations affect covalent bond formation reversibly under suitable conditions for DCC. Further progress in this area still requires the identification of dynamic motifs and greater insights into their reversibility. We have fruitfully employed DCC of both thiolate coordination to main-group elements and disulfide formation for the facile self-assembly of: (1) metal/metalloid-thiolate assemblies, and (2) purely organic cyclic and caged disulfides, thioethers, and even hydrocarbons, many of which have remained elusive by traditional stepwise synthesis yet form readily through our methods. In this Minireview, we highlight the approaches to prepare these unusual compounds and the factors inducing structural transformations or favoring the formation of certain products over others, given a set of external stimuli or reaction conditions.