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Synthesis of a Thiol Building Block for the Crystallization of a Semiconducting Gyroidal Metal-sulfur Framework
Published on: April 9, 2018
Metal-catalyzed methylthiolation of chloroarenes and diverse aryl electrophiles
Sae Toyoda1, Keiichiro Iizumi1, Junichiro Yamaguchi1
1Department of Applied Chemistry, Waseda University 513 Wasedatsurumakicho Shinjuku Tokyo 162-0041 Japan junyamaguchi@waseda.jp.
Abstract:
In this study, we report the first development of metal catalyzed methylthiolation of chloroarenes and diverse aromatic electrophiles, addressing the persistent challenges of catalyst and intermediate deactivation in the functionalization of less reactive substrates. To overcome these issues, we designed a novel anion-shuttle-type methylthiolation agent, 4-((methylthio)methyl)morpholine, which enables the controlled in situ release of methylthiolate anions, thereby preventing catalyst poisoning and enhancing reactivity. This strategy allows efficient methylthiolation not only of chloroarenes but also of a broad range of aryl electrophiles, including bromoarenes, aryl triflates, aryl tosylates, aryl pivalates, aryl nitriles, and aryl carboxylic acids. The developed system exhibits excellent functional group compatibility, making it applicable to the derivatization of pharmaceuticals and natural products. Furthermore, detailed mechanistic investigations revealed key factors underlying the exceptional efficiency of this methylthiolation agent, providing new insights into C-S bond formation under practical conditions.
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