A mutual exchange: Synthesizing aryl sulfides from non-smelling, non-toxic compounds

(Waseda University) The importance of aryl sulfides in biologically active compounds has led chemists to develop methods to synthesize them from carbon-sulfur bond forming reactions. The conventional reaction, however, uses thiols that are foul-smelling and toxic. Now, chemists from Waseda University, Japan, report a novel, thiol-free synthesis technique comprising a nickel-catalyzed aryl exchange between 2-pyridyl sulfide and aromatic esters, providing a versatile and inexpensive technology for both scientific and industrial applications.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news